Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) treated at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) over a ten-year period (1990-1999)

Abstract

This is a retrospective study of 74 cases of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) treated at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) over a ten-year period (1990-1999). The peak age group at presentation was 2-3 years with a range from 4 months to 34 years. There was a slight male predominance at 54.1 %. Most of the patients came from Central (29.7%) and Nyanza (28.4%) provinces. The commonest presenting symptoms were hoarseness, stridor and dysnoea. The glottis was the commonest site involved (95.8%). Extra laryngeal site involvement was found in 13.5% of cases. All cases were managed by direct laryngoscopic removal of papillomas with micro forceps. 50% of cases required more than one excision to control their recurrences. Tracheostomy was done on 20.3% of patients out of whom 53% were later successfully decannulated. 8.1% of patients developed complications, which was mainly laryngeal stenosis. There was no mortality recorded during the period under review.