Achieving normal pulmonary function following tracheoplasty in infancy

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Respiratory Medicine
• Neonatology

Background:

• Infant long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis (LTS) is a rare and severe condition.
• Management of LTS poses significant clinical challenges, often requiring complex interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the successful management of a pediatric patient with severe long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis.
• To highlight the long-term outcomes following slide tracheoplasty and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Main Methods:

• The study details the case of an infant with severe LTS requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and slide tracheoplasty.
• Repeated bronchoscopic reinterventions for tracheal granulations were performed.
• Long-term follow-up included pulmonary function testing and exercise tolerance assessment.

Main Results:

• The patient underwent successful slide tracheoplasty in infancy.
• The child experienced recurrent tracheal granulations requiring multiple bronchoscopic interventions.
• At 9 years of age, the patient demonstrated normal pulmonary function and exercise tolerance.

Conclusions:

• Slide tracheoplasty can be an effective treatment for severe long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis in infants.
• Despite complications like granulations, long-term respiratory outcomes can be favorable with appropriate management.
• This case underscores the importance of multidisciplinary care and persistent intervention for complex pediatric airway anomalies.