Rings, slings, and other tracheal disorders in the neonate

Tracheal and bronchial pathologies in the neonate can be rapidly fatal if prenatal or quick postnatal diagnosis and intervention is not performed. Close multidisciplinary collaboration between multiple medical and surgical specialties is vital to the effective diagnosis and treatment of these pathologies. The fetal and neonatal airway may be affected or compromised by more prevalent pathologies such as tracheomalacia and tracheo-esophageal fistula with esophageal atresia. However, it is imperative that we also consider other potential sources that may perhaps be less familiar such as congenital cardiovascular abnormalities, tracheal stenosis, complete tracheal rings, tracheal sleeve, and foregut duplication cysts. Modern imaging studies and surgical techniques are allowing us to better serve these children.