Direct tracheobronchopexy to correct airway collapse due to severe tracheobronchomalacia: Short-term outcomes in a series of 20 patients

Long-term Airway Outcomes and Interventions in Children With Oesophageal Atresia With Tracheoesophageal Fistula: A 20-year Single Centre Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Airway anomalies, symptoms and interventions are commonly reported in children with oesophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (OA/TOF). The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of these airway pathologies and those requiring interventions in the long-term.

METHODS

A retrospective case note review of all patients admitted to the Neonatal Unit at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow between January 2000 and December 2015 diagnosed with OA/TOF. Included patients had a minimum of 5 years follow-up.

RESULTS

121 patients were identified. 118 proceeded to OA/TOF repair. 115 patients had long-term follow-up data. Ninety-five (83%) children had one or more airway symptom recorded. Thirty-six (31%) neonates underwent airway endoscopy at the time of their initial OA/TOF repair. Forty-six (40%) children underwent airway endoscopy at a later date due to airway symptoms. Airway pathologies identified included airway malacia, thirty-two (28%), subglottic stenosis, eleven (10%), tracheal pouch, twenty-five (22%), laryngeal cleft, seven (6%) and recurrent fistula, five (4%). Airway interventions included endoscopic division of tracheal pouch, ten (9%), tracheostomy, seven (6%), aortopexy, six (5%), repair of recurrent fistula, five (4%), endoscopic repair of laryngeal cleft, three (3%) and four (3%) required open airway reconstruction for subglottic stenosis. One child (1%) remains tracheostomy dependent.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term airway pathologies are common in children with OA/TOF. Many of these are remediable with surgical intervention. Clinicians should be cognisant of this and refer to Airway Services appropriately.

Surgical treatment for severe pediatric tracheobronchomalacia: the 20-year experience of a single center

OBJECTIVE

In children with tracheobronchomalacia, surgical management should be reserved for the most severe cases and be specific to the type and location of tracheobronchomalacia. The goal of this study is to describe the presentation and outcomes of children with severe tracheobronchomalacia undergoing surgery.

METHODS

Retrospective case series of 20 children operated for severe tracheobronchomalacia at a tertiary hospital from 2003 to 2023. Data were collected on symptoms age at diagnosis, associated comorbidities, previous surgery, age at surgery, operative approach, time of follow-up, and outcome. Surgical success was defined as symptom improvement.

RESULTS

The most frequent symptoms of severe tracheobronchomalacia were stridor (50 %), cyanosis (50 %), and recurrent respiratory infections (45 %). All patients had one or more underlying conditions, most commonly esophageal atresia (40 %) and prematurity (35 %). Bronchoscopy were performed in all patients. Based on etiology, patients underwent the following procedures: anterior aortopexy (n = 15/75 %), posterior tracheopexy (n = 4/20 %), and/or posterior descending aortopexy (n = 4/20 %). Three patients underwent anterior aortopexy and posterior tracheopexy procedures. After a median follow-up of 12 months, 16 patients (80 %) had improvement in respiratory symptoms. Decannulation was achieved in three (37.5 %) out of eight patients with previous tracheotomy. The presence of dying spells at diagnosis was associated with surgical failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Isolated or combined surgical procedures improved respiratory symptoms in 80 % of children with severe tracheobronchomalacia. The choice of procedure should be individualized and guided by etiology: anterior aortopexy for anterior compression, posterior tracheopexy for membranous intrusion, and posterior descending aortopexy for left bronchus obstruction.

Effects of primary posterior tracheopexy in thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of primary posterior tracheopexy (PPT) in reducing ventilator dependence after repair of esophageal atresia (EA), and the risk of respiratory tract infections (RTI) requiring readmissions within one year.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study recruited patients with EA admitted to our hospital between June 2020 and December 2021.

Results

In the PPT group (n = 17), the time to extubation after surgery was 86.7 h for 12 patients, with one patient (8.3%) requiring repeated postoperation intubation; six-in-sixteen patients (37.5%) experience at least one RTI requiring hospitalization in one year. In the non-PPT group (n = 17), the time to extubation was 127.0 h for 14 patients, with six-in-fourteen patients (42.9%) requiring repeated intubation; twelve-in-seventeen patients (70.6%) experienced at least one RTI requiring hospitalization in one year.

Conclusions

Although the differences did not reach statistical significance due to limited number of participants, patients underwent PPT during EA repair had lower chance of repeated intubation and decreased risk of RTI requiring admissions within one year.

Surgical Management of Acute Life-Threatening Events affecting Esophageal Atresia and/or Tracheoesophageal Fistula Patients

BACKGROUND

Following surgical correction, many patients with esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) present to the emergency department (ED) with acute airway complications. We sought to determine the incidence and risk factors for severe acute life-threatening events (ALTEs) in pediatric patients with repaired congenital EA/TEF and the outcomes of operative interventions.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort chart review was performed on patients with EA/TEF with surgical repair and follow-up at a single centre from 2000 to 2018. Primary outcomes included 5-year ED visits and/or hospitalizations for ALTEs. Demographic, operative, and outcome data were collected. Chi-square tests and univariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

In total, 266 EA/TEF patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 59 (22.2%) had experienced ALTEs. Patients with low birth weight, low gestational age, documented tracheomalacia, and clinically significant esophageal strictures were more likely to experience ALTEs (p < 0.05). ALTEs occurred prior to 1 year of age in 76.3% (45/59) of patients with a median age at presentation of 8 months (range 0-51 months). Recurrence of ALTEs after esophageal dilatation was 45.5% (10/22), mostly due to stricture recurrence. Patients experiencing ALTEs received anti-reflux procedures (8/59, 13.6%), airway pexy procedures (7/59, 11.9%), or both (5/59, 8.5%) within a median age of 6 months of life. The resolution and recurrence of ALTEs after operative interventions are described.

CONCLUSION

Significant respiratory morbidity is common among patients with EA/TEF. Understanding the multifactorial etiology and operative management of ALTEs have an important role in their resolution.

TYPE OF STUDY

Original Research, Clinical Research.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III Retrospective Comparative Study.

A New Removable Helical Metallic Stent for the Treatment of Tracheomalacia in Children: Study in Pathological Animal Model

BACKGROUND

Congenital tracheomalacia is a pathology with no consensus of medical or surgical approach. The permanent nature and the major complications associated with metallic stents have limited their use over the years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a helical stent design removal.

METHODS

Ten dogs diagnosed with tracheal collapse and treated with the helical stent were involved in the study. Animals were classified into three groups depending on stent indwelling time. Prior to the removal, endoscopic evaluation was performed to assess endothelization grade, mucous accumulation, and the presence of stenosis. During the removal, bleeding, fracture, or impossibility of removal were noted. After the removal, all macroscopic mucosal changes were recorded.

RESULTS

Technical success was 100%, without any complications. Complete epithelization of the stent was visualized in 7/10 animals. The removal procedure duration ranged from 2-12 min. At post-removal endoscopy, bleeding or epithelial damage, was visualized in any case. Stent fracture during removal occurred in one animal.

CONCLUSIONS

The removal of a metallic stent with spiral geometry is feasible, simple, and without complications, regardless of the degree of neo-epithelialization.

Thoracoscopic posterior tracheopexy during primary esophageal atresia repair ameliorate tracheomalacia in neonates: a single-center retrospective comparative cohort study

BACKGROUND

Esophageal atresia (EA) is often associated with tracheomalacia (TM). The severity of TM symptoms varies widely, with serious cases requiring prolonged respiratory support and surgical treatment. Although we performed thoracoscopic posterior tracheopexy (TPT) during primary EA repair to prevent or reduce the symptoms of TM, few studies have investigated the safety and effectiveness of TPT during primary EA repair. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TPT in neonates.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients diagnosed with TM who underwent primary thoracoscopic EA repair between 2013 and 2020 at the Nagoya University Hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: TPT (TPT group) and without TPT (control group). TPT has been performed in all patients with EA complicated by TM since 2020. We compared patient backgrounds, surgical outcomes, postoperative complications, and treatment efficacy.

RESULTS

Of the 22 patients reviewed, eight were in the TPT group and 14 were in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in the surgical outcomes between the groups (operation time: p = 0.31; blood loss: p = 0.83; time to extubation: p = 0.30; time to start enteral feeding: p = 0.19; time to start oral feeding: p = 0.43). Conversion to open thoracotomy was not performed in any case. The median operative time required for posterior tracheopexy was 10 (8-15) min. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complications between the groups (chylothorax: p = 0.36; leakage: p = 1.00; stricture: p = 0.53). The respiratory dependence rate 30 days postoperative (2 [25%] vs. 11 [79%], p = 0.03) and the ratio of the lateral and anterior-posterior diameter of the trachea (LAR) were significantly lower in the TPT group (1.83 [1.66-2.78] vs. 3.59 [1.80-7.70], p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

TPT during primary EA repair for treatment of TM significantly lowered respiratory dependence rate at 30 days postoperative without increasing the risk of postoperative complications. This study suggested that TPT could improve TM associated with EA.

Mid-term results of vascular ring surgery

BACKGROUND

Vascular rings cause respiratory symptoms in children. Treatment consists of surgical division; however, data regarding mid-term results are scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical results of vascular ring surgery.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of consecutive patients who underwent vascular ring surgery. Mid-term follow-up consisted of clinic visits and telephone questionnaire over a 1-year period sampling at five points in time.

RESULTS

Follow-up of 85 patients who underwent vascular rings surgery revealed significant symptomatic improvement within 6 months. In total, 50% were symptomatic to some degree at their last documented clinic visit complaining of stridor (36.8%), cough (34.2%), wheezing (10.5%), dyspnoea on exertion (10.5%), or recurrent respiratory infections (23.7%). By telephone questionnaires, 83% described a significant improvement in respiratory symptoms, 63.4% had some residual symptoms, 36.6% stridor, 38.8% chronic cough, 32.4% bronchodilator use,18.3% had at least one episode of pneumonia per year, 31% of children had dyspnoea or respiratory limitation, and 12.7% while doing physical activities. We found no association between the age at surgery or anatomic variant to the presence of symptoms at mid-term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical division of vascular rings results in significant clinical improvement within 1 year; nevertheless, some patients remain symptomatic to some degree. We found no association between the age at surgery or anatomic variant to the presence of symptoms at mid-term follow-up. Further evaluation is warranted to assess the nature of residual symptoms and explore whether anatomical causes can be identified leading to surgical modifications.

Reoperation to correct unsuccessful vascular ring and vascular decompression surgery

OBJECTIVE

Although most children do well after operations to relieve vascular compression of the esophagus and airway, many will have persistent/recurrent symptoms. We review our surgical experience using a customized approach to correct various etiologies of failure after vascular ring/decompression surgery.

METHODS

Our institutional database identified children who underwent reoperation for persistent/recurrent symptoms after vascular ring or aberrant arterial decompression surgery between January 2014 and December 2019. Charts were reviewed for operative approaches and clinical data. Findings were analyzed by Fisher exact test for comparison between groups.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven children required reoperative surgery. Detailed preoperative workup identified 5 etiologies of failure for a customized approach. Residual scarring was corrected by lysis and rotational esophagoplasty (n = 23/27); fibrotic bands re-creating a ring were divided (n = 11); ongoing vascular compression was addressed by descending aortopexy (n = 19), aberrant subclavian division (n = 7), aortic uncrossing procedure (n = 4), and Kommerell resection (n = 8); anterior aortopexy (n = 6) and anterior tracheopexy (n = 9) corrected cartilage malformation; and tracheobronchomalacia was addressed with posterior airway pexy (n = 26). At available short-term follow-up (median 1 year), 21 of 22 patients (95%) had symptom improvement, and on bronchoscopy, the average number of airway sections with severe tracheobronchomalacia decreased from 2.8 ± 1.7 to 0.5 ± 0.9 (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent/recurrent symptoms after release of vascular compression are frequently caused by 5 different etiologies. A multidisciplinary strategy for workup and a customized operative approach can effectively treat these cases and may suggest opportunity at the index surgery to prevent reoperation and achieve optimal outcomes.

Resorbable airway splint, stents, and 3D reconstruction and printing of the airway in tracheobronchomalacia

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is the most common tracheobronchial obstruction. Most cases are mild to moderate; therefore, they do not need surgical treatment. Severe tracheomalacia, however, represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge since they are very heterogeneous. In the armamentarium of resources for the treatment of dynamic airway collapse, splints and stents are two underused strategies and yet, they may represent the best alternative in selected cases. Lately, computed tomography 3D reconstruction of the airway has been used for the design of virtual models that can be 3D-printed for the creation of novel devices to address training, simulation, and biotechnological implants for refractory and severe airway malformations. This manuscript examines the role of resorbable stents, splints, and the 3D reconstruction and printing of the pediatric airway in tracheobronchomalacia.

Current concepts in tracheobronchomalacia: diagnosis and treatment

Airway collapse from dynamic tracheobronchomalacia (TBM), static compression from vascular compression, and/or tracheobronchial deformation are challenging conditions. Patients are best assessed and managed by a multidisciplinary team in centers specializing in complex pediatric airway disorders. Suspicion is made through clinical history and physical examination, diagnosis of location and severity by dynamic 3-phase bronchoscopy, and surgical treatment planning by MDCT and other studies as necessary to completely understand the problems. The treatment plan should be patient-based with a thorough approach to the underlying pathology, clinical concerns, and combined abnormalities. Patients should undergo maximum medical therapy prior to committing to other interventions. For those children considered candidates for surgical intervention, all other associated conditions, including vascular anomalies, chest wall deformities, mediastinal lesions, or other airway pathologies, should also be considered. Our preference is to correct the airway lesions at the same operation as other comorbidities, if possible, to prevent multiple reoperations with their attendant increased risks. We also strongly advocate for the use of recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring in all cases of cervical or thoracic surgery to minimize the risks to vocal cord function and laryngeal sensation. Studies that evaluate the effect of these interventions on the patient and caregiver's quality of life are needed to fully grasp the impact of TBM on this challenging patient population.

Experience with bioresorbable splints for treatment of airway collapse in a pediatric population

Objective

To report our experience with novel external tracheal and bronchial placed bioresorbable splints in children with severe symptomatic airway collapse.

Methods

Retrospective review of patients undergoing bioresorbable splint placement.

Results

Between July 2018 and February 2020, 14 patients received 16 external splints (trachea, n = 8; left bronchus, n = 7; and right bronchus, n = 1). Preoperatively, 7 patients had a tracheostomy; 6 of them were receiving mechanical ventilation with ventilator settings so high that they required an inpatient setting, often in an intensive care unit. Median age at implant was 14.5 months (range, 2 months-14 years). Splints were formed from moldable bioresorbable plates (RapidSorb; Synthes, Oberdorf, Switzerland) and were customized intraoperatively around a Hegar dilator. A series of Prolene sutures were placed through into the airway cartilage under simultaneous bronchoscopic and direct visualization and then tied securing the airway within the splint. Concomitant procedures were also performed in the region of the airway splints, consisting of airway reconstruction, cardiovascular procedures, and/or esophageal rotation (related to posterior tracheopexy). Median follow-up was 20 months (interquartile range, 12-21 months). Four patients required no further intervention. Although not necessarily in the splinted region, 7 patients required additional procedures, including posterior tracheobronchopexy (n = 2), temporary tracheal stent placement (n = 1), tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis (n = 1), closure tracheostomy (n = 1), and tracheostomy placement (n = 2). One patient required splint replacement and in 1 patient, the splint was removed later. All patients (except 2 deaths from unrelated causes) were discharged home. Three patients required mechanical ventilation at lower settings that allowed home ventilation (1 of those only at night), and 4 patients required tracheostomy collar. Indications for tracheostomy included subglottic stenosis, vocal cord paralysis, pulmonary insufficiency, small airway malacia, and laryngomalacia.

Conclusions

An external bioresorbable splint can provide temporary external support while allowing the age-proportional growth of the airway. We applied readily available bioresorbable plates that were custom-molded based on the location, shape, and length of the collapsing airway in selected patients presenting with severe tracheobronchomalacia from loss of structural support and/or cartilage deformation. Further study that includes long-term outcomes are necessary to define the best role for these external splints as part of comprehensive airway management.

Tracheobronchomalacia, Tracheobronchial Compression, and Tracheobronchial Malformations: Diagnostic and Treatment Strategies

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is an excessive dynamic narrowing of the airway that is greatest with increased mediastinal pressure such as coughing, Valsalva, and forced expiration. Airway compression and/or cartilage malformation is a fixed or static narrowing of the airway typically caused by great vessel malposition and/or abnormalities and may also contribute to airway narrowing. Although imprecise and misleading, the term TBM is often used to represent both problems, static and dynamic airway narrowing, which only serves to confuse and may mislead the treatment team into ineffective therapies. The consequences of airway narrowing caused by dynamic TBM and/or static compression includes a range of clinical signs and symptoms, depending on the location, extent, and severity of the airway collapse. All patients with mild to severe TBM benefit from medical management to optimize airway clearance of mucus. The milder cases of TBM may become asymptomatic with this therapy, allowing time for the child to grow and the airway to enlarge without the consequences of recurrent infections. In cases of more severe TBM with clinical sequelae, more aggressive management may be warranted. Multiple options for surgical intervention are available. This article discusses the details of clinical presentation, evaluation, diagnosis, and a variety of treatments.

Primary Posterior Tracheopexy in Esophageal Atresia Decreases Respiratory Tract Infections

Background: Esophageal atresia (EA) is often accompanied by tracheomalacia (TM). TM can lead to severe respiratory complaints requiring invasive treatment. This study aims to evaluate if thoracoscopic primary posterior tracheopexy (PPT) can prevent the potential sequelae of TM in patients with EA. Methods: A cohort study including all consecutive EA patients treated between 2014 and July 2019 at the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital was conducted. Two groups were distinguished: (group 1) all EA patients born between January 2014 and December 2016 and (group 2) all EA patients born between January 2017 and July 2019, after introduction of PPT. In the latter group, PPT was performed in EA patients with moderate (33-66%) or severe (67-100%) tracheomalacia, seen during preoperative bronchoscopy. Group differences were assessed using the Fisher's exact test for bivariate variables and the Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variables. Results: A total of 64 patients were included in this study (28 patients in group 1; 36 patients in group 2). In group 2, PPT was performed in 14 patients. Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) requiring antibiotics within the first year of life occurred significantly less in group 2 (61 vs. 25%, p = 0.004). Brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) seemed to diminish in group 2 compared to group 1 (39 vs. 19%, p = 0.09). Conclusion: Thoracoscopic primary posterior tracheopexy decreases the number of respiratory tract infections in EA patients. The clinical impact of reducing RTIs combined with the minimal additional operating time and safety of PPT outweighs the risk of overtreatment.

When to consider a posterolateral descending aortopexy in addition to a posterior tracheopexy for the surgical treatment of symptomatic tracheobronchomalacia

PURPOSES

The descending thoracic aorta typically crosses posterior to the left mainstem bronchus (LMSB). We sought to evaluate patient factors that may lead one to consider a posterolateral descending thoracic aortopexy (PLDA) in addition to a posterior tracheopexy (PT) in the surgical treatment of symptomatic tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) that involves the LMSB.

METHODS

Retrospective review of patients who underwent PT with or without PLDA between 2012 and 2017. Severity and extent of TBM were assessed using dynamic tracheobronchoscopy. Aortic positioning compared to the anterior border of the spine (ABS) at the level of the left mainstem bronchus was identified on computed tomography (CT). Factors associated with performing a PLDA were evaluated with logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 188 patients who underwent a PT, 70 (37%) also had a PLDA performed. On multivariate analysis, >50% LMSB compression on bronchoscopy (OR 8.06, p < 0.001), >50% of the aortic diameter anterior to the ABS (OR 2.06, p = 0.05), and more recent year of surgery (OR 1.61, p = 0.003) were associated with performing a PLDA.

CONCLUSION

When performing a PT, a PLDA should be considered for patients who have >50% LMSB compression on dynamic bronchoscopy, and in those with a descending thoracic aorta located >50% anterior to the ABS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective comparative study.

Care recommendations for the respiratory complications of esophageal atresia-tracheoesophageal fistula

Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) with esophageal atresia (EA) is a common congenital anomaly that is associated with significant respiratory morbidity throughout life. The objective of this document is to provide a framework for the diagnosis and management of the respiratory complications that are associated with the condition. As there are no randomized controlled studies on the subject, a group of experts used a modification of the Rand Appropriateness Method to describe the various aspects of the condition in terms of their relative importance, and to rate the available diagnostic methods and therapeutic interventions on the basis of their appropriateness and necessity. Specific recommendations were formulated and reported as Level A, B, and C based on whether they were based on "strong", "moderate" or "weak" agreement. The tracheomalacia that exists in the site of the fistula was considered the main abnormality that predisposes to all other respiratory complications due to airway collapse and impaired clearance of secretions. Aspiration due to impaired airway protection reflexes is the main underlying contributing mechanism. Flexible bronchoscopy is the main diagnostic modality, aided by imaging modalities, especially CT scans of the chest. Noninvasive positive airway pressure support, surgical techniques such as tracheopexy and rarely tracheostomy are required for the management of severe tracheomalacia. Regular long-term follow-up by a multidisciplinary team was considered imperative. Specific templates outlining the elements of the clinical respiratory evaluation according to the patients' age were also developed.

Early Infant Symptomatic Patients With Tetralogy of Fallot With Absent Pulmonary Valve: Pulmonary Artery Management and Airway Stabilization

BACKGROUND

Tracheobronchomalacia and airway obstruction from severely dilated pulmonary arteries in tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve (TOF-APV) has been associated with high rates of respiratory failure and mortality (15% to 25%). It is not known whether aggressive pulmonary artery (PA) or direct airway intervention during early definitive cardiac repair improves outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was made of all patients undergoing surgical repair for TOF-APV at our center between 2006 and 2018.

RESULTS

Twenty patients underwent repair at a median age of 51 days and PA Z-scores of 8.1. Twelve patients had a valve implanted, 6 of whom required reoperation for valve replacement at a median of 9 months (range, 3 to 28) compared with 8 who had initial transannular patch, and only 1 patient required subsequent valve replacement (P < .05). Seven patients had central PAs replaced with thin-walled Gore-Tex (WL Gore, Flagstaff, AZ) grafts; none of these required PA reoperation during a median follow-up of 26.5 months, whereas 3 of 13 patients who did not have PA replacement with Gore-Tex required subsequent PA reoperation (P < .05). Concomitant airway interventions (eg, tracheobronchopexy/plasty) were performed in 4 patients and none required subsequent airway interventions, whereas 2 patients not having initial airway intervention required subsequent tracheopexy (P < .05). Three patients in the cohort eventually required tracheostomy (15%), and 2 patients died (10%; on postoperative days 30 and 326); none had received initial airway intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary artery replacement and aggressive direct airway management at initial definitive repair of cardiac TOF-APV can be performed safely with acceptable survival outcomes and low rates of airway and PA reintervention.

Great vessel anomalies and their impact on the surgical treatment of tracheobronchomalacia

BACKGROUND

Tracheobronchial compression (TBC) from great vessel anomalies (GVA) can contribute to tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) symptoms. The frequency, impact on symptoms and optimal management of GVA in these patients, with or without a history of esophageal atresia (EA), are still unclear.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients who underwent surgery for TBM/ TBC between 2001 and 2017 were reviewed. Demographics, type of GVA, and operative interventions were collected. The frequency and treatment modalities of GVA between EA and non-EA patients were compared.

RESULTS

Overall, 209 patients met criteria; 120 (57.4%) patients had at least one GVA, including double aortic arches (n = 4, 1.9%), right aortic arches (n = 14, 6.7%), aberrant right subclavian arteries (n = 15, 7.2%), and innominate artery compression (n = 71, 34.0%). Non-EA patients were more likely to have surgery later in life (29.5 months versus 16 months, p = 0.0002), double aortic arch (p = 0.0174), right aortic arch (p < 0.0001), and undergo vascular reconstruction concurrently with their airway procedure (25% vs 8.4%, p = 0.002). Vessel reconstruction was performed in 25 patients; six required cardiac bypass.

CONCLUSION

The frequency of GVA in patients with symptomatic airway collapse is substantial. Multidisciplinary evaluation is imperative for operative planning as many require complex reconstruction and collaboration with cardiac surgery, particularly patients without a history of EA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Combining lexical and context features for automatic ontology extension

BACKGROUND

Ontologies are widely used across biology and biomedicine for the annotation of databases. Ontology development is often a manual, time-consuming, and expensive process. Automatic or semi-automatic identification of classes that can be added to an ontology can make ontology development more efficient.

RESULTS

We developed a method that uses machine learning and word embeddings to identify words and phrases that are used to refer to an ontology class in biomedical Europe PMC full-text articles. Once labels and synonyms of a class are known, we use machine learning to identify the super-classes of a class. For this purpose, we identify lexical term variants, use word embeddings to capture context information, and rely on automated reasoning over ontologies to generate features, and we use an artificial neural network as classifier. We demonstrate the utility of our approach in identifying terms that refer to diseases in the Human Disease Ontology and to distinguish between different types of diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our method is capable of discovering labels that refer to a class in an ontology but are not present in an ontology, and it can identify whether a class should be a subclass of some high-level ontology classes. Our approach can therefore be used for the semi-automatic extension and quality control of ontologies. The algorithm, corpora and evaluation datasets are available at https://github.com/bio-ontology-research-group/ontology-extension.

Esophageal Trachea, a Unique Foregut Malformation Requiring Multistage Surgical Reconstruction: Case Report

Abnormal connections between the esophagus and low respiratory tract can result from embryological defects in foregut development. Beyond well-known malformations, including tracheo-esophageal fistula and laryngo-tracheo-esophageal cleft, rarer anomalies have also been reported, including communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformations and tracheal atresia. Herein, we describe a case of what we have called "esophageal trachea," which, to our knowledge, has yet to be reported. A full-term neonate was born in our institution presenting with a foregut malformation involving both the middle esophagus and the distal trachea, which were found to be longitudinally merged into a common segment, 3 cm in length, located just above the carina and consisted of esophageal tissue without cartilaginous rings. At birth, the esophagus and trachea were surgically separated via right thoracotomy, the common segment kept on the tracheal side only, creating a residual long-gap esophageal atresia. The resulting severe tracheomalacia was treated via simultaneous posterior splinting of such diseased segment using an autologous pericardium patch, as well as by anterior aortopexy. Terminal esophagostomy and gastrostomy were created at that stage due to the long distance between esophageal segments. Between ages 18 and 24 months, the patient underwent native esophageal reconstruction using a multistage traction-and-growth surgical strategy that combined Kimura extra-thoracic esophageal elongations at the upper esophagus and Foker external traction at the distal esophagus. Ten months after esophageal reconstruction, prolonged, refractory, and severe tracheomalacia was further treated via anterior external stenting using a semitubular ringed Gore-Tex® prosthesis, through simultaneous median sternotomy and tracheoscopy. Currently, 2 years after the last surgery, respiratory stabilization, and full oral feeding were stably achieved. Multidisciplinary management was crucial for assuring lifesaving procedures, correctly assessing anatomy, and planning for multiple sequential surgical approaches that aimed to restore long-term respiratory and digestive functions.

Aortopexy for the treatment of tracheobronchomalacia in 100 children: a 10-year single-centre experience

OBJECTIVES

Our study describes and analyses the results from aortopexy for the treatment of airway malacia in children.

METHODS

Demographic data, characteristics and preoperative, operative and outcome details, including the need for reintervention, were collected for children undergoing aortopexy between 2006 and 2016.

RESULTS

One hundred patients [median age 8.2 months, interquartile range (IQR) 3.3-26.0 months] underwent aortopexy. Sixty-four (64%) patients had tracheomalacia (TM) only, 24 (24%) patients had TM extending into their bronchus (tracheobronchomalacia) and 11 (11%) patients had bronchomalacia. Forty-one (41%) children had gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, of which 17 (41%) children underwent a Nissen fundoplication. Twenty-eight (28%) children underwent a tracheo-oesophageal fistula repair prior to aortopexy (median 5.7 months, IQR 2.9-17.6 months). The median duration of follow-up was 5.3 years (IQR 2.9-7.5 years). Thirty-five (35%) patients were on mechanical ventilatory support before aortopexy. Twenty-seven (77%) patients could be safely weaned from ventilator support during the same admission after aortopexy (median 2 days, IQR 0-3 days). Fourteen patients required reintervention. Overall mortality was 16%. Multivariable analysis revealed preoperative ventilation (P = 0.004) and bronchial involvement (P = 0.004) to be adverse predictors of survival. Only bronchial involvement was a predictor for reintervention (P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

Aortopexy appears to be an effective procedure in the treatment of children with severe airway malacia. Bronchial involvement is associated with adverse outcome, and other procedures could be more suitable. For the treatment of severe airway malacia with isolated airway compression, we currently recommend aortopexy to be considered.

Innovative management of severe tracheobronchomalacia using anterior and posterior tracheobronchopexy

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Combined anterior and posterior tracheobronchopexy is a novel surgical approach for the management of severe tracheobronchomalacia (TBM). We present our institutional experience with this procedure. Our objective was to determine the utility and safety of anterior and posterior tracheopexy in the treatment of severe TBM.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

METHODS

All patients who underwent anterior and posterior tracheopexy from January 2013 to July 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Charts were reviewed for indications, preoperative work-up, tracheobronchomalacia classification and severity, procedure, associated syndromes, synchronous upper aerodigestive tract lesions, and aberrant thoracic vessels. Main outcomes measured included improvement in respiratory symptoms, successful extubation and/or decannulation, vocal fold immobility, and new tracheotomy placement.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients underwent anterior and posterior tracheopexy at a mean age of 15.8 months (range, 2-209 months; mean, 31 months if 2 outliers of 206 and 209 months included). Mean length of follow-up was 26.8 months (range, 13-52 months). Indications for surgery included apneic events, ventilator dependence, need for positive pressure ventilation, tracheotomy dependence secondary to TBM, recurrent pneumonia, and exercise intolerance. Many patients had other underlying syndromes and synchronous upper aerodigestive tract lesions (8 VACTERL, 2 CHARGE, 1 trisomy 21, 1 Feingold syndrome, 17 esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula, 20 cardiac/great vessel anomalies, 1 subglottic stenosis, 1 laryngomalacia, 7 laryngeal cleft). At preoperative bronchoscopy, 21 of 25 patients had >90% collapse of at least one segment of their trachea, and the remaining four had 70% to 90% collapse. Following anterior and posterior tracheopexy, one patient developed new bilateral vocal-fold immobility; one patient with a preoperative left cord paralysis had a new right vocal-fold immobility. Postoperatively, most patients had significant improvement in their respiratory symptoms (21 of 25, 84%) at most recent follow-up. Three patients with preexisting tracheotomy were decannulated; two patients still had a tracheotomy at last follow-up. Two patients required new tracheotomy for bilateral vocal-fold immobility.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined anterior and posterior tracheopexy is a promising new technique for the surgical management of severe TBM. Further experience and longer follow-up are needed to validate this contemporary approach and to minimize the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 130:E65-E74, 2020.

3D-printed, externally-implanted, bioresorbable airway splints for severe tracheobronchomalacia

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To report the clinical safety and efficacy of three-dimensional (3D)-printed, patient-specific, bioresorbable airway splints in a cohort of critically ill children with severe tracheobronchomalacia.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series.

METHODS

From 2012 to 2018, 15 subjects received 29 splints on their trachea, right and/or left mainstem bronchi. The median age at implantation was 8 months (range, 3-25 months). Nine children were female. Five subjects had a history of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and 11 required continuous sedation, six of whom required paralytics to maintain adequate ventilation. Thirteen were chronically hospitalized, unable to be discharged, and seven were hospitalized their entire lives. At the time of splint implantation, one subject required ECMO, one required positive airway pressure, and 13 subjects were tracheostomy and ventilator dependent, requiring a median positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 14 cm H₂ O (range, 6-20 cm H₂ 0). Outcomes collected included level of respiratory support, disposition, and splint-related complications.

RESULTS

At the time of discharge from our institution, at a median of 28 days postimplantation (range, 10-56 days), the subject on ECMO was weaned from extracorporeal support, and the subjects who were ventilated via tracheostomy had a median change in PEEP (discharge-baseline) of -2.5 cm H₂ O (range, -15 to 2 cm H₂ O, P = .022). At median follow-up of 8.5 months (range, 0.3-77 months), all but one of the 12 surviving subjects lives at home. Of the 11 survivors who were tracheostomy dependent preoperatively, one is decannulated, one uses a speaking valve, six use a ventilator exclusively at night, and three remain ventilator dependent.

CONCLUSIONS

This case series demonstrates the initial clinical efficacy of the 3D-printed bioresorbable airway splint device in a cohort of critically ill children with severe tracheobronchomalacia.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 129:1763-1771, 2019.

Tracheomalacia and Tracheobronchomalacia in Pediatrics: An Overview of Evaluation, Medical Management, and Surgical Treatment

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) refers to airway collapse due to typically excessive posterior membrane intrusion and often associated with anterior cartilage compression. TBM occurs either in isolation or in association with other congenital or acquired conditions. Patients with TM typically present non-specific respiratory symptoms, ranging from noisy breathing with a typical barking cough to respiratory distress episodes to acute life-threatening events and recurrent and/or prolonged respiratory infections. There are no definitive standardized guidelines for the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of TBM; therefore, patients may be initially misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated. Although milder cases of TBM may become asymptomatic as the diameter of the airway enlarges with the child, in cases of severe TBM, more aggressive management is warranted. This article is an overview of the clinical presentation, evaluation, diagnosis, medical management, and surgical treatment options in pediatric tracheomalacia.

Thoracoscopic posterior tracheopexy for tracheomalacia: A minimally invasive technique

BACKGROUND

Tracheomalacia is the most common congenital abnormality of the trachea. Posterior tracheopexy to alleviate posterior intrusion contributing to dynamic tracheal collapse has been reported using thoracotomy or median sternotomy. Here we describe the minimally invasive operative technique of thoracoscopic posterior tracheopexy with bronchoscopic guidance.

OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE

After preoperative computed tomography and bronchoscopy, a right thoracoscopic approach is utilized. The esophagus is mobilized and the membranous trachea is sutured to the prevertebral fascia under direct bronchoscopic visualization. Immediate improvement in tracheal collapse is noted. No major complications are reported and length of stay is short. Aortopexy may also be required to address anterior vascular compression.

CONCLUSION

Thoracoscopic posterior tracheopexy is safe and feasible. Further studies with more patients and longer follow-up are needed to assess durability.

Pediatric tracheomalacia and the perioperative anesthetic management of thoracoscopic posterior tracheopexy

Tracheomalacia is a broad term used to describe an abnormally compliant trachea that can lead to exaggerated collapse and obstruction with expiration. We describe the perioperative management of a complex pediatric patient undergoing a posterior tracheopexy which is a relatively new surgical treatment, with a novel surgical approach-thoracoscopy. This procedure has competing surgical and anesthetic needs and presents unique challenges to the physicians involved in caring for these patients. We also review the current literature on pediatric tracheomalacia and examine the newest treatment options to highlight the potential anesthetic challenges and pitfalls associated with management.

Thoracoscopic posterior tracheopexy during primary esophageal atresia repair: a new approach to prevent tracheomalacia complications

BACKGROUND

Esophageal atresia (EA) is usually accompanied by some form of tracheomalacia (TM). During the early phases in life, excessive dynamic collapse of the trachea can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild complaints to apparent life-threatening events (ALTE's) or brief resolved unexplained events (BRUE's). Therapeutic strategies for severe TM include aortopexy to lift the anterior weakened cartilaginous rings or posterior tracheopexy of the floppy membranous tracheal intrusion. In this study, we describe the development of a new approach in which the posterior tracheopexy is performed directly during the primary thoracoscopic correction of EA.

METHODS

In 2017, all nine consecutive EA patients with trachea-esophageal fistula underwent a rigid tracheo-bronchoscopy (RTB) evaluation during induction of anesthesia prior to the thoracoscopic EA repair. A floppy posterior membrane was diagnosed in four patients. During the subsequent thoracoscopic procedure, the posterior membranous trachea was fixed to the anterior longitudinal spinal ligament with non-absorbable sutures. Then, the anastomosis was made between the two esophageal pouches.

RESULTS

On preoperative RTB, two patients had a severe (70-90%) mid-tracheal collapse of the pars membranacea and two patients had a moderate (33-40%) mid-tracheal collapse. Thoracoscopic posterior tracheopexy with two or three sutures was possible in all four patients, prior to the formation of the esophageal anastomosis. Median time per suture was 6 min (range 4-12 min). All operative procedures were uneventful. A median follow-up of 6 months (range 4-9 months) revealed that all patients showed further recovery without any TM symptoms or ALTE/BRUE.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report that introduces a new approach to thoracoscopic posterior tracheopexy during primary EA repair. We believe that this technique can prevent the potentially deleterious sequelae of mild to severe TM that may complicate the lives of EA patients. Also, a second, sometimes complex surgical procedure can be prevented as the posterior tracheopexy is performed during the primary thoracoscopic EA correction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Posterior Tracheopexy for Severe Tracheomalacia Associated with Esophageal Atresia (EA): Primary Treatment at the Time of Initial EA Repair versus Secondary Treatment

Purpose

We review outcomes of posterior tracheopexy for tracheomalacia in esophageal atresia (EA) patients, comparing primary treatment at the time of initial EA repair versus secondary treatment.

Methods

All EA patients who underwent posterior tracheopexy from October 2012 to September 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical symptoms, tracheomalacia scores, and persistent airway intrusion were collected. Indication for posterior tracheopexy was the presence of clinical symptoms, in combination with severe tracheomalacia as identified on bronchoscopic evaluation, typically defined as coaptation in one or more regions of the trachea. Secondary cases were usually those with chronic respiratory symptoms who underwent bronchoscopic evaluation, whereas primary cases were those found to have severe tracheomalacia on routine preoperative dynamic tracheobronchoscopy at the time of initial EA repair.

Results

A total of 118 patients underwent posterior tracheopexy: 18 (15%) primary versus 100 (85%) secondary cases. Median (interquartile range) age was 2 months (1–4 months) for primary (22% type C) and 18 months (8–40 months) for secondary (87% type C) cases (p < 0.001). There were statistically significant improvements in most clinical symptoms postoperatively for primary and secondary cases, with no significant differences in any postoperative symptoms between the two groups (p > 0.1). Total tracheomalacia scores improved significantly in primary (p = 0.013) and secondary (p < 0.001) cases. Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated no differences in persistent airway intrusion requiring reoperation between primary and secondary tracheopexy adjusting for imbalances in age and EA type (p = 0.67).

Conclusion

Posterior tracheopexy is effective in treating severe tracheomalacia with significant improvements in clinical symptoms and degree of airway collapse on bronchoscopy. With no significant differences in outcomes between primary and secondary treatment, posterior tracheopexy should be selectively considered at the time of initial EA repair.

Direct tracheobronchopexy via left lateral thoracotomy for severe tracheobronchomalacia

An infant with pulmonary atresia/ventricular septal defect/major aortopulmonary collateral arteries underwent unifocalization, ventriculoseptal defect closure and placement of a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit via median sternotomy. Aortopexy and pulmonary arteriopexy via redo sternotomy were insufficient to allow weaning of continuous positive airway pressure and he required direct tracheobronchopexy via left lateral thoracotomy to alleviate posterior trachealis intrusion along the length of the trachea and left main bronchus. He also underwent laryngotracheoplasty with placement of a posterior costal cartilage graft for bilateral vocal cord paralysis. The patient was weaned from positive pressure and discharged in stable condition.

Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guidelines: Diagnostic Evaluation of Infants with Recurrent or Persistent Wheezing

BACKGROUND

Infantile wheezing is a common problem, but there are no guidelines for the evaluation of infants with recurrent or persistent wheezing that is not relieved or prevented by standard therapies.

METHODS

An American Thoracic Society-sanctioned guideline development committee selected clinical questions related to uncertainties or controversies in the diagnostic evaluation of wheezing infants. Members of the committee conducted pragmatic evidence syntheses, which followed the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The evidence syntheses were used to inform the formulation and grading of recommendations.

RESULTS

The pragmatic evidence syntheses identified few studies that addressed the clinical questions. The studies that were identified constituted very low-quality evidence, consisting almost exclusively of case series with risk of selection bias, indirect patient populations, and imprecise estimates. The committee made conditional recommendations to perform bronchoscopic airway survey, bronchoalveolar lavage, esophageal pH monitoring, and a swallowing study. It also made conditional recommendations against empiric food avoidance, upper gastrointestinal radiography, and gastrointestinal scintigraphy. Finally, the committee recommended additional research about the roles of infant pulmonary function testing and food avoidance or dietary changes, based on allergy testing.

CONCLUSIONS

Although infantile wheezing is common, there is a paucity of evidence to guide clinicians in selecting diagnostic tests for recurrent or persistent wheezing. Our committee made several conditional recommendations to guide clinicians; however, additional research that measures clinical outcomes is needed to improve our confidence in the effects of various diagnostic interventions and to allow advice to be provided with greater confidence.

Posterior tracheopexy for severe tracheomalacia

PURPOSE

In severe tracheomalacia, aortopexy addresses anterior vascular compression, but does not directly address posterior membranous tracheal intrusion. We review patient outcomes of posterior tracheopexy for tracheomalacia with posterior intrusion to determine if there were resolution of clinical symptoms and bronchoscopic evidence of improvement in airway collapse.

METHODS

All patients who underwent posterior tracheopexy from October 2012 to March 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical symptoms, tracheomalacia scores based on standardized dynamic airway evaluation by anatomical region, and persistent airway intrusion were collected. Data were analyzed by Wald and Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests.

RESULTS

98 patients (51% male) underwent posterior tracheopexy at a median age of 15months (IQR 6-33months). Median follow-up was 5months (range 0.25-36months). There were statistically significant improvements in clinical symptoms postoperatively, including cough, noisy breathing, prolonged and recurrent respiratory infections, transient respiratory distress requiring positive pressure, oxygen dependence, blue spells, and apparent life-threatening events (p<0.001), as well as ventilator dependence (p=0.04). Tracheomalacia scores on bronchoscopy improved significantly in all regions of the trachea and bronchi (p<0.001). 9.2% had persistent airway intrusion requiring reoperation, usually with aortopexy.

CONCLUSIONS

Posterior tracheopexy is effective in treating severe tracheomalacia with significant improvements in clinical symptoms and degree of airway collapse on bronchoscopy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, treatment study.

Long-gap esophageal atresia

The management of long-gap esophageal atresia remains challenging with limited consensus on the definition, evaluation, and surgical approach to treatment. Efforts to preserve the native esophagus have been successful with delayed primary anastomosis and tension-based esophageal growth induction processes. Esophageal replacement is necessary in a minority of cases, with the conduit of choice and patient outcomes largely dependent on institutional expertise. Given the complexity of this patient population with significant morbidity, treatment and long-term follow-up are best done in multidisciplinary esophageal and airway treatment centers.

Pediatric airway surgery

Pediatric airway surgery is a challenging field in pediatric surgery. Laryngotracheal stenosis has a variety of congenital and acquired conditions that require precise assessment and tailored treatment for each individual patient. About 90% of acquired conditions are represented by subglottic stenosis (SGS) resulting as a complication of tracheal intubation. Congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) is a rare and life-threatening malformation, usually associated with complete tracheal rings along a variable length of the trachea. Tracheomalacia (TM) is a process characterized by flaccidity of the supporting tracheal cartilage, widening of the posterior membranous wall, and reduced anterior-posterior airway caliber. The clinical presentation can vary from almost asymptomatic patients to near fatal airway obstruction. There is considerable variation in both the morphologic subtypes and the prognosis of pediatric airway. The patients are divided into three clinical groups (mild, moderate, and severe). A further division was proposed according to the presence or absence of associated anomalies. The definitive diagnosis of pediatric airway was made by means of rigid bronchoscope and computed tomography scan with three-dimensional reconstruction (3D-CT). Rigid bronchoscopy and 3D-CT confirmed the diagnosis in all the cases. Other associated anomalies include congenital heart disease, vascular anomalies, and BPFM (maldevelopment of aerodigestive tract). After definitive diagnosis of pediatric airway lesions, surgical intervention should be considered. Surgical strategy was presented on each lesion.

Esophageal atresia and tracheo-esophageal fistula

Management of esophageal atresia has merged from correction of the anomaly to the complete spectrum of management of esophageal atresia and all its sequelae. It is the purpose of this article to give an overview of all aspects involved in taking care of patients with esophageal atresia between January 2011 and June 2016, as well as the patients who were referred from other centers. Esophageal atresia is a complex anomaly that has many aspects that have to be dealt with and complications to be solved. By centralizing these patients in centers of expertise it is believed that the best care can be given.

Categorization and repair of recurrent and acquired tracheoesophageal fistulae occurring after esophageal atresia repair

PURPOSE

Recurrent trachea-esophageal fistula (recTEF) is a frequent (5%-10%) complication of congenital TEF (conTEF) and esophageal atresia (EA) repair. In addition, postoperative acquired TEF (acqTEF) can occur in addition to or even in the absence of prior conTEF in the setting of esophageal anastomotic complications. Reliable repair often proves difficult by endoluminal or standard surgical techniques. We present the results of an approach that reliably identifies the TEF and facilitates airway closure as well as repair of associated tracheal and esophageal problems.

METHODS

Retrospective review of 66 consecutive patients 2009-2016 (55 referrals and 11 local) who underwent repair via reoperative thoracotomy or cervicotomy for recTEF and acqTEF (IRB P00004344). Our surgical approach used complete separation of the airway and esophagus, which reliably revealed the TEF (without need for cannulation) and freed the tissues for primary closure of the trachea and frequently resection of the tracheal diverticulum. For associated esophageal strictures, stricturoplasty or resection was performed. Separation of the suture lines by rotational pexy of the both esophagus and the trachea, and/or tissue interposition were used to further inhibit re-recurrence. For associated severe tracheomalacia, posterior tracheopexy to the anterior spinal ligament was utilized.

RESULTS

The TEFs were recurrent (77%), acquired from esophageal leaks (26%), in addition to persistent or missed H-type (6%). Seven patients in this series had multiple TEFs of more than one category. Of the acqTEF cases, 6 were esophagobronchial, 10 esophagopulmonic, 2 esophagotracheal (initial pure EA cases), and 2 from a gastric conduit to the trachea. Upon referral, 18 patients had failed endoluminal treatments; and open operations for recTEF had failed in 18 patients. Significant pulmonary symptoms were present in all. During repairs, 58% were found to have a large tracheal diverticulum, and 51% had posterior tracheopexy for significant tracheomalacia. For larger esophageal defects, 32% were treated by stricturoplasty and 37% by segmental resection. Rotational pexy of the trachea and/or esophagus was utilized in 62% of cases to achieve optimal suture line separation. Review with a mean follow-up of 35months identified no recurrences, and resolution of pulmonary symptoms in all. Stricture treatment required postoperative dilations in 30, and esophageal replacement in 6 for long strictures. There was one death.

CONCLUSION

This retrospective review of 66 patients with postoperative recurrent and acquired TEF following esophageal atresia repair is the largest such series to date and provides a new categorization for postoperative TEF that helps clarify the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for management.

Advances in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of neonates with laryngeal disorders

Neonatal airway obstruction due to laryngeal pathology may cause significant morbidity and even mortality. The most frequently occurring etiologies anatomically from superiorly to inferiorly include: laryngomalacia, saccular cyst, vocal fold paralysis, anterior glottic web, laryngeal atresia, laryngeal cleft, subglottic stenosis, and subglottic hemangioma. The pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment options for each of these entities are discussed with a focus on a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach.

Surgical Treatment of Tracheobronchomalacia: A novel approach

Tracheobronchomalacia, as a whole, is likely misdiagnosed and underestimated as a cause of respiratory compromise in pediatric patients. Currently, there is no standardized approach for the overall evaluation of pediatric tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) and the concept of excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC); no grading score for the evaluation of severity; nor a standardized means to successfully approach TBM and EDAC. This paper describes our experience standardizing the approach to these complex patients whose backgrounds include different disease etiologies, as well as a variety of comorbid conditions. Preoperative and postoperative evaluation of patients with severe TBM and EDAC, as well as concurrent development of a prospective grading scale, has allowed us to ascertain correlation between surgery, symptoms, and effectiveness on particular tracheal-bronchial segments. Long-term, continued collection of patient characteristics, surgical technique, complications, and outcomes must be collected given the overall heterogeneity of this particular population.

Pediatric tracheomalacia

Tracheomalacia (TM) is defined as an increased collapsibility of the trachea due to structural anomalies of the tracheal cartilage and/or posterior membrane. Tracheomalacia has a wide range of etiologies but is most commonly present in children born with esophageal atresia and tracheal esophageal fistula. Clinical symptoms can range from minor expiratory stridor with typical barking cough to severe respiratory distress episodes to acute life-threatening events (ALTE). Although the majority of children have mild-to-moderate symptoms and will not need surgical intervention, some will need life-changing surgical treatment. This article examines the published pediatric literature on TM, discusses the details of clinical presentation, evaluation, diagnosis, and a variety of treatments.