Tubed supraglottoplasty is a procedure to treat laryngomalacia and aspiration, a condition where soft tissues above the vocal cords collapse inward during breathing, causing noisy breathing or airway obstruction — most common in infants and young children. This surgery reshapes or stiffens those tissues to improve airflow. When done for aspiration, the height of the larynx is changed to prevent spillover of food and liquids into the larynx.

During the procedure, which is done under general anesthesia, a laryngoscope is used to access the upper larynx. The surgeon carefully trims or repositions floppy tissue, often creating a differently shaped airway. Sometimes, tiny tubes (stents) are temporarily placed to hold the tissues in their new position as they heal. Recovery depends on the age and condition of the patient, but many experience immediate improvement in breathing and feeding. Postoperative care includes close monitoring for airway swelling and follow-up laryngoscopy. In most cases, voice and swallowing are unaffected or improve as breathing normalizes.