Management of pediatric tracheal stenosis and tracheomalacia

Tracheal stenosis and malacia are somewhat rare conditions encountered in children and are difficult management problems. Tracheal stenosis, when limited in length, is amenable to resection and re-anastomosis. However, long segment tracheal stenosis occurs most often in infants and often is associated with quite severe symptoms. A variety of surgical options are available for treatment depending, in part, on surgeon's preference and experience. Tracheomalacia is, in some ways, more frustrating to treat because it usually persists after the underlying cause, usually external compression, is eliminated. This chapter will discuss these issues in detail.