Airway Malformations and Bronchiectasis: A Pediatric Study

Congenital airway malformations are most often identified in early childhood. The development of bronchiectasis in association with malformations of the lower airway has been described, particularly among adult patients. The coexistence in a pediatric population of these conditions is not well described. This study was conducted to identify whether younger patients with airway malformations commonly develop bronchiectasis. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision (ICD-9 codes) were defined for airway anomalies and bronchiectasis. The electronic medical records system of a children's hospital was then searched for the number of patients with upper airway anomalies with or without bronchiectasis. The airway database was then cross referenced with the ICD codes for bronchiectasis to identify patients with both conditions. There were 844 patients with airway anomalies and 117 with bronchiectasis in the electronic system during the time period of August 1, 2009 to September 30, 2014. There was only 3 patients identified with both bronchiectasis and airway anomalies. The coexistence of bronchiectasis is low among the pediatric population with upper airway anomalies studied. This would suggest that the children with airway anomalies have been treated with strategies that are effective in the prevention of recurrent lower respiratory tract infection. Further study may be done to define the effectiveness of various strategies in preventing aspiration and lower respiratory tract infection. In addition, this methodologic technique utilizing database integrative platforms is useful in the identification of patients for further study and to identify the coexistence of pediatric conditions.