A 2-year-old female patient presented with a history of difficulty breathing associated with noisy breathing and a productive cough since birth. The child was initially managed for laryngomalacia without any significant improvement. She had also been treated previously for pneumonia and asthma on multiple occasions associated with recurrent cyanotic episodes and respiratory distress, although she was reported to be afebrile. There was no history of easy fatiguability or failure to thrive. The mother reported an unremarkable pregnancy and delivered at term, weighing 4.2 kg, via cesarean section due to one previous scar. The patient had met all developmental milestones on time and had received all vaccinations recommended for her age.
Physical Examination upon Arrival:
General Appearance: Alert, with a normal tone and posture, appeared sick and in respiratory distress, not cyanosed, SpO2: 86% on room air. The patients had a weight-for-age z score of +1.5. Head and Neck: Oral examination revealed Grade 3 uninflamed tonsils, with no cervical lymphadenopathy noted. Respiratory System: On inspection, Grade 3 finger clubbing was noted, and symmetrical chest movements with slightly increased AP diameter and tachypnea with increased work of breathing were observed. Biphasic stridor and worsening on expiration were also noted, and there were good bilateral air entry bronchial breath sounds with a prolonged expiratory phase. Low-pitched polyphonic wheezes and widespread coarse crepitations were noted. Dysmorphic features included a depressed nasal bridge, epicanthal folds, low-set ears, polydactyly, and syndactyly.Normal cognitive function and normal cardiovascular parameters
Lung function tests revealed normal lung function.Blood analysis revealed iron deficiency anemia, and chromosomal analysis revealed no chromosomal anomalies.
Normal Echocardiogram
Imaging:Laryngoscopy revealed normal findings. An IV contrast chest CT scanrevealed distal tracheal narrowing before the bifurcation, measuring 7.4 mm in length and 1.4 mm in diameter, and no vascular rings or slings were identified.
Figures 1 and 2 display pre-operative imaging that illustrates narrowing of the distal trachea located proximal to the bifurcation. The constricted segment measures 7.4 mm in length and 1.4 mm in width.
Diagnosis: The patient was diagnosed with tracheobronchitis secondary to distal CTS.
Management: Multidisciplinary management was undertaken to address the complex nature of the patient's condition, involving specialists from various medical fields, including pediatric pulmonologists and pediatric cardiac anesthetists, to ensure comprehensive care and optimal treatment outcomes.
Medical Management:The management included iron supplementation, dexamethasone, and nebulization with ventolin, as per the consulted teams' recommendations.
Surgical management: Resection and anastomosis surgery
Surgical intervention steps: 1. Under general anesthesia, endotracheal intubation was performed, and the endotracheal tube (ETT) was positioned above the stenotic part of the patient's trachea to ensure airway patency. 2. The patient was then positioned in the left lateral decubitus position for optimal surgical access. 3. A right posterolateral incision was made, the chest was methodically opened in layers, and the right lung was retracted anteriorly to expose the underlying structures. 4. Upon exploration, a dilated supra-carinal tracheal portion and tracheal stenosis approximately 1 cm proximal to the carina were identified. 5. The mediastinal pleura was subsequently opened supero-inferiorly to allow better access to the trachea. 6. The trachea and both main bronchi were secured with nylon tape for control during the procedure. 7. A longitudinal slit incision was then made on the trachea, and the stenotic tracheal portion was resected. 8. Prior to advancing the ETT, an incision was made in the left main bronchus. 9. The ETT was advanced into the left bronchus to maintain ventilation. 10. To facilitate surgical exposure, the right lung was intentionally collapsed. 11. Anastomosis of the trachea was performed using Polydioxanone suture (PDS) 4.0 in an interrupted fashion, both anteriorly and posteriorly. 12. A bubble test was conducted to ensure that there was no air leakage, with negative results confirming the integrity of the anastomosis. 13. A 20 Fr chest tube was then inserted under direct vision to manage any potential pleural effusion or pneumothorax. 14. The chest wall was meticulously closed in layers to ensure the structural integrity of the thoracic cavity. 15. To limit head movement and ensure airway stability postoperatively, PDS 0 was used to secure the patient's chin to the anterior chest wall. The patient was successfully discharged from the ICU on the ninth postoperative day.
Postoperative Course and Management: The patient was admitted to the ICU for meticulous monitoring. To manage increased secretions, the medical team implemented a regimen of regular suction every two hours and chest physiotherapy every three hours. Initially, the patient was successfully extubated on postoperative day 3 but experienced severe respiratory distress, necessitating reintubation the following day. The treatment regimen included antibiotics, corticosteroids, analgesics, and nebulization with 3% hypertonic saline administered every eight hours. Two days after reintubation, the patient was extubated again and continued to receive intermittent continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), along with ongoing chest physiotherapy, nebulization, corticosteroids, and antibiotics. The chest tube was removed on postoperative day 8, and the patient was subsequently discharged from the ICU on postoperative day 9.
Follow-Up and Further Management: The patient experienced a series of postoperative complications and progressions. On postoperative day 17, she was readmitted to the ICU due to severe respiratory distress, specifically presenting with type 2 respiratory failure accompanied by mixed acidosis. Her condition stabilized, and she was discharged from the ICU on postoperative day 20.
Further evaluations were conducted, and on postoperative day 27, an IV contrast chest CT scan revealed irregular luminal narrowing in the distal trachea measuring 2.4 cm in length and 3.4 mm in width, with the superior caliber extending to 6.3 mm up to the level of the carina. This scan also revealed bilateral left lower and right middle peribronchial opacities, indicative of viral or atypical pneumonia.
Subsequently, the patient was discharged home on postoperative day 32 under the care of a pediatric pulmonologist, who continued to monitor her recovery with further bronchoscope dilation scheduled as part of her ongoing treatment.