Posterior tracheopexy for treating tracheomalacia in a newborn

Posterior tracheopexy is the newest procedure in pediatric surgery for treating tracheomalacia. Unlike aortopexy, the posterior tracheopexy directly affects the membranous part, fixing it to the spine and thus opening the tracheal lumen. In this article, authors present the experience of treating tracheomalacia using a new method and demonstrate objective data on improving airway patency. Materials and methods: The study presents a patient with tracheomalacia, which was caused by esophageal atresia. A newborn boy weighing 2720 g had a prenatal diagnosis of esophageal atresia. The baby was born with signs of respiratory distress. After tracheoscopy, severe tracheomalacia with complete collapse of the tracheal lumen was diagnosed. Assessment of the tracheomalacia severity on R. Jennings scale was 300 points. A simultaneous thoracoscopic operation - posterior tracheopexy and esophageal anastomosis was performed. Results: The patient underwent surgery well. The duration of surgical intervention was 85 minutes. During the operation there was no bleeding and other intraoperative complications. The patient was extubated on the 3rd day of life and did not show any symptoms of respiratory disorders. The control tracheoscopy, performed on the 10th day after the surgery confirmed the complete opening of the trachea lumen. Assessment of the tracheomalacia severity on R. Jennings scale was 480 points. Observation for 6 months after surgery did not reveal any symptoms of respiratory failure.