Tracheobronchomalacia in an adult with metaphyseal chondrodysplasia

Anaesthetic complications such as obstruction of airways by submucosal cartilage-bone protuberances, immobility of the neck or instability of the atlanto-axial joint have been described earlier in paediatric patients with congenital osteochondral disorders. This report concerns a case in which tracheal collapse due to tracheobronchial malacia in an adult patient with metaphyseal chondrodysplasia evidently caused severe ventilatory difficulties in the induction of anaesthesia. The management of the patient on three subsequent occasions is described. During the first operation, support of the upper respiratory tract was performed. For this procedure, awake tracheal intubation with local anaesthesia applied to the larynx, vocal cords and trachea was used. After surgical correction of the bronchus of the right upper lobe and the stem bronchus, subsequent anaesthesias for surgical treatment of scoliosis could be conducted safely. The possibility of co-existing tracheobronchial malacia in patients with osteochondrodysplasias should be considered and tracheal intubation under local anaesthesia is recommended.