ABSTRACT
The safe management of the stridulous child is one of the core skills for all ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons. It is assessed at the exit examination and will be reassessed at revalidation. ENT surgeons must have an understanding of the common causes of acute and chronic stridor and be able to practise safe initial management. Most acutely stridulous children are initially managed by paediatricians and emergency physicians. By the time an ENT surgeon becomes involved in the acute situation, the stridor may be well established. Usually, medical treatment alone will suffice, but occasionally a child will need to be taken to the operating theatre for controlled intubation. In many institutions an ENT surgeon is in attendance in case an emergency tracheostomy is needed, but in reality this is rarely required.
