Severe airway obstruction in an infant with congenital tracheal stenosis and congenital heart disease -A case report-

Abstract

Congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS), though rare, is important because the mortality and morbidity rates are high ininfants. Especially, associated congenital heart disease (CHD) in these infants may compound the effects of airwaypathology. A 3-week-old patient with long-segmental tracheal stenosis below an anomalous right-upper lobe (RUL)bronchus had undergone a total correction of double outlet right ventricle. On third postoperative day, hypercarbiadeveloped, and severe airway obstruction and atelectasis were detected. An emergency slide tracheoplasty wasperformed under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The patient recovered well after the surgery. Thus, special attentionneeds to be paid during the postoperative intensive care of patients with congenital tracheal anomalies. Earlydetection and prompt diagnosis of airway obstruction can help reduce the morbidity and mortality rates. Further, it isimportant to select the suitable treatment of CTS associated with CHD. © the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists, 2012.