Tracheal agenesis: diagnosis and management

Tracheal agenesis (TA) is a rare congenital anomaly that typically has fatal consequences. Its rarity, lack of prenatal symptoms, and emergent presentation usually lead to a failure to arrive at the correct diagnosis and manage the airway properly before the onset of irreversible cerebral anoxia. We report the case history of an infant born with immediate respiratory failure who was diagnosed with tracheal agenesis. The clinical features, embryology, classification schemes and surgical management are discussed with the hope that increased awareness and earlier diagnosis may lead to better chances of survival for affected individuals.