ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is characterized by collapse of trachea, bronchi or both, leading to dyspnoea, expiratory stridor, coughing or recurrent airway infections. Surgical treatment with aortopexy is warranted for severe TBM. We describe a modified aortopexy technique with aortic wall strap sutures that evenly distributes the traction force over the full width of the aortic arch. The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of this modified anterior aortopexy technique. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing aortopexy with aortic wall strap sutures for TBM between January 2010 and June 2020 in 2 tertiary hospitals in the Netherlands. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients [median age 9 months (interquartile range 2-117 months); 71% male] underwent aortopexy with the modified technique for TBM (52%), tracheomalacia (40%) or bonchomalacia (8%). Aortopexy was successful in 91.7%, defined as relief or decrease of respiratory symptoms and no need for respiratory support. Complications occurred in 8.3% and mortality was 4%. CONCLUSIONS: Aortopexy with non-absorbable strap sutures seems an effective and safe treatment for severe TBM. This study supports the hypothesis that strap sutures provide a solid and reliable traction force, but future comparative studies should confirm the benefit of strap sutures over conventional techniques.
