Clinical Characteristics and Associated Congenital Lesions with Tracheomalacia in Infants.

OBJECTIVE

To describe clinical presentation, bronchoscopy findings and associated anomalies in cases of congenital tracheomalacia in infants (age <1y).

METHODS

Hospital record review of 88 infants (mean age 8 mo, 57 males) diagnosed as having tracheomalacia by flexible bronchoscopy between 2012 and 2015.

RESULTS

The predominant features were wheeze (57.9%), stridor (42.1%), cough (38.6%), pneumonia (29.5%) and collapse (12.5%). On bronchoscopy, malacia was observed in lower half of trachea in 51 (57.9%) infants. Synchronized airway lesions observed were laryngomalacia (30.7%) and bronchomalacia (3.4%). 15 (17%) infants had associated congenital heart disease and 21 (23.8%) required care in intensive care unit.

CONCLUSIONS

Wheeze,stridor and cough are the main symptoms in tracheomalacia. Laryngomalacia and congenital heart diseases are the most common other anomalies associated in these infants.