Airway Compression by Major Aortopulmonary Collaterals with 22q11 Deletion

Airway anomalies in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

People with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) can present with a wide variety of findings. Various airway anomalies have been described intermittently within this syndrome, but this feature has not been extensively investigated. Increased provider awareness of these findings may help guide clinical decision-making and improve overall patient outcomes. The objectives of this review are to identify the types of airway anomalies in 22q11DS and the prevalence of airway anomalies within symptomatic individuals.

METHODS

PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases were searched in February 2022 for all available articles. Search terms included those that described 22q11DS or one of its synonymous conditions AND those that described airway anatomy and anomalies. The term airway anomaly was defined as any structural aberration in the conductive airway from the oral or nasal vestibule region to the mainstem bronchus. Studies were screened by two authors. A review of references was conducted. Eligible manuscripts underwent full-text review for quality appraisal and data extraction.

RESULTS

From a total of 909 unique manuscripts, 58 studies were selected, describing 328 people. The prevalence of airway anomaly diagnosis within symptomatic individuals ranged from 14% to 74%. Twenty-two unique airway anomalies were described. Laryngeal web was the most frequently described anomaly, followed by airway malacia and subglottic stenosis. Laryngeal web was 40% sensitive for suggesting a diagnosis of 22q11DS. Among affected individuals, as many as 46% had multiple concomitant airway anomalies. Aside from respiratory symptoms, other features that prompted airway evaluation included difficult intubation or failed extubation.

CONCLUSION

The findings within this review support the notion that a wide variety of airway anomalies may be seen in people with 22q11DS and that these findings have been discovered frequently in those with airway symptoms. Providers should maintain a low threshold to perform an airway examination in those with 22q11DS, especially when airway symptoms are present.

Assessment of airway abnormalities in patients with tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and major aortopulmonary collaterals

BACKGROUND

Children with tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and major aortopulmonary collaterals (TOF/MAPCAs) are at risk for post-operative respiratory complications after undergoing unifocalisation surgery. Thus, we assessed and further defined the incidence of airway abnormalities in our series of over 500 children with TOF/MAPCAs as determined by direct laryngoscopy, chest computed tomography (CT), and/or bronchoscopy.

METHODS

The medical records of all patients with TOF/MAPCAs who underwent unifocalisation or pulmonary artery reconstruction surgery from March, 2002 to June, 2018 were reviewed. Anaesthesia records, peri-operative bronchoscopy, and/or chest CT reports were reviewed to assess for diagnoses of abnormal or difficult airway. Associations between chromosomal anomalies and airway abnormalities - difficult anaesthetic airway, bronchoscopy, and/or CT findings - were defined.

RESULTS

Of the 564 patients with TOF/MAPCAs who underwent unifocalisation or pulmonary artery reconstruction surgery at our institution, 211 (37%) had a documented chromosome 22q11 microdeletion and 28 (5%) had a difficult airway/intubation reported at the time of surgery. Chest CT and/or peri-operative bronchoscopy were performed in 234 (41%) of these patients. Abnormalities related to malacia or compression were common. In total 35 patients had both CT and bronchoscopy within 3 months of each other, with concordant findings in 32 (91%) and partially concordant findings in the other 3.

CONCLUSION

This is the largest series of detailed airway findings (direct laryngoscopy, CT, and bronchoscopy) in TOF/MAPCAS patients. Although these findings are specific to an at-risk population for airway abnormalities, they support the utility of CT and /or bronchoscopy in detecting airway abnormalities in patients with TOF/MAPCAs.

Congenital respiratory tract disorders in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Respiratory tract disorders have been reported in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, however infrequently. This study describes the respiratory tract disorders encountered in a cohort of 278 patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, study at a single tertiary referral center. We identified the patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and with an upper and/or lower respiratory tract disorder at our otorhinolaryngologic department. The different disorders were described.

RESULTS

Out of 278 patients referred to the otorhinolaryngologic department, we identified 14 patients with a laryngeal and/or tracheal disorder. Nine patients had more than one congenital disorder in this anatomical area. Disorders included a choanal stenosis (n = 1), laryngeal web (n = 5), laryngeal cleft (n = 2), subglottic stenosis (n = 3), pharyngo-, laryngo-, tracheo- and/or bronchomalacia (n = 11) and tracheal stenosis (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

Different types of respiratory tract disorders can be present in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Clinicians should be aware of this clinical association for timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment. In addition, the diagnosis 22q11.2 deletion syndrome should be considered in patients presenting with a congenital respiratory tract disorder.

Bronchoscopy in children with tetralogy of fallot, pulmonary atresia, and major aortopulmonary collaterals

OBJECTIVE

Children with Tetralogy of Fallot, Pulmonary Atresia, and Major Aortopulmonary Collaterals (TOF/PA/MAPCAs) undergoing unifocalization surgery are at risk for developing more postoperative respiratory complications than children undergoing other types of congenital heart surgery. Bronchoscopy is used in the perioperative period for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In this study, we describe bronchoscopic findings and identify factors associated with selection for bronchoscopy.

DESIGN

Retrospective case-control.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients with TOF/PA/MAPCAs who underwent unifocalization surgery from September 2005 through March 2016 were included. Patients who underwent bronchoscopy in the perioperative period were compared to a randomly selected cohort of 172 control patients who underwent unifocalization without bronchoscopy during the study period.

RESULTS

Forty-three children underwent perioperative bronchoscopy at a median of 9 days postoperatively. Baseline demographics were similar in bronchoscopy patients and controls. Patients who underwent bronchoscopy were more likely to have a chromosome 22q11 deletion and were more likely have undergone unifocalization surgery without intracardiac repair. These patients had a longer duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU duration, and length of hospitalization. Abnormalities were detected on bronchoscopy in 35 patients (81%), and 20 (35%) of bronchoscopy patients underwent a postoperative intervention related to abnormalities identified on bronchoscopy.

CONCLUSION

Bronchoscopy is a useful therapeutic and diagnostic instrument for children undergoing unifocalization surgery, capable of identifying abnormalities leading to an additional intervention in over one third of patients. Special attention should be given to children with a 22q11 deletion to expedite diagnosis and intervention for possible airway complications.