Clinical Characteristics and Associated Congenital Lesions with Tracheomalacia in Infants

ABSTRACT

Objective: To describe clinical presentation, bronchoscopy findings and associatedanomalies in cases of congenital tracheomalacia in infants (age <1y). Methods: Hospitalrecord review of 88 infants (mean age 8 mo, 57 males) diagnosed as having tracheomalaciaby flexible bronchoscopy between 2012 and 2015. Results: The predominant features werewheeze (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%) requiredcare in intensive care unit. Conclusion: Wheeze,stridor and cough are the main symptomsin tracheomalacia. Laryngomalacia and congenital heart diseases are the most commonother anomalies associated in these infants.