Tracheomalacia

Revision as of 02:58, 26 July 2016 by Neil.m.young (talk | contribs) (Text replacement - "==Diagnosis==" to "==Evaluation==")

Background

  • Can present as an isolated congenital lesion
  • Associated with TEF
    • A frequent complication of surgical repair of esophageal atresia (EA) and TEF
  • Typically infant to <2 years

Clinical Features

  • Infants
    • Brassy, barking cough
    • Can also develop “dying/death spells” that begin after 2–3 months of age[1]
      • Characterized by cyanosis, apnea, bradycardia, and hypotonia that require resuscitation[2]
  • Severe
    • Stridor at rest
    • Biphasic stridor
    • Dyspnea with feeding
    • Expiratory wheezing with respiratory infections

Differential Diagnosis

Stridor

Trauma

Infectious Disorders

Abscesses

Neoplastic Disorders

  • Neoplasms/tumors

Allergic and Auto-Immune Disorders

  • Spasmodic/tracheobronchitis
  • Angioedema/Angioneurotic edema

Metabolic, Storage Disorders

  • Cerebral Gaucher's of infants (acute)
  • Tracheobronchial amyloidosis

Biochemical Disorders

Congenital, Developmental Disorders

Psychiatric Disorders

  • Somatization disorder

Anatomical or Mechanical

Vegetative, Autonomic, Endocrine Disorders

Poisoning

Chronic Pediatric Conditions

Evaluation

Workup

Management

  • Close observation
  • Recurrent “death spells”
    • May require more invasive intervention such as nasal CPAP temporarily
  • Aortopexy or tracheostomy for long-term relief

Disposition

References

  1. *Kovesi T, Rubin S. Long-Term Complications of Congenital Esophageal Astresia and/or Tracheoesophageal Fistula. Chest. 2004;915-925.
  2. *Boudewyns A, Claes J, Van de Heyning P. Clinical Practic: An approach to stridor in infants and children. Eur J Pediatr. 2010;169:135-141
  3. Vocal Cord Dysfunction on Internet Book of Critical Care https://emcrit.org/ibcc/vcd/
  4. Ernst A, Feller-Kopman D, Becker HD, Mehta AC. Central airway obstruction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004