Slide Tracheoplasty Outcomes in Children With Congenital Pulmonary Malformations

Objectives/Hypothesis: Evaluate and compare surgical outcomes of slide tracheoplasty for the treatment of congenital tracheal stenosis in children with and without pulmonary malformations. Study Design: Retrospective chart review at a tertiary care pediatric medical center. Methods: We identified patients with tracheal stenosis who underwent slide tracheoplasty from 2001 to 2014, and a subset of these patients who were diagnosed with congenital pulmonary malformations. Hospital course and preoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Results: One hundred thirty patients (18 with pulmonary malformations, 112 with normal pulmonary anatomy) were included. Pulmonary malformations included unilateral pulmonary agenesis (61%) and hypoplasia (39%). Children with pulmonary malformations had a greater median age compared to their normal lung anatomy counterparts. Preoperatively, patients with pulmonary malformations more frequently required preoperative mechanical ventilation (55.6% vs. 21.3%, P =.007), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (11% vs. 0.9%, P =.05), and tracheostomy (22.2% vs. 3.6%, P =.01). Postoperatively, patients with pulmonary malformations more frequently required mechanical ventilation > 48 hours (78% vs. 37%, P =.005) and ECMO use (11% vs. 0.9%, P =.05). Pulmonary malformation patients and children with normal anatomy did not differ in terms of postoperative tracheostomy (16.7% vs. 4.4%, P >.05), dehiscence (6% vs. 0%, P >.05%), restenosis (11% vs. 6%, P >.05) or postoperative figure 8 deformity (6% vs. 3%, P >.05). Mortality, however, was significantly increased (22.2% vs. 3.6%, P =.01) in children with pulmonary malformations. Conclusions: Although slide tracheoplasty can be successfully performed in patients with abnormal pulmonary anatomy, surgeons and families should anticipate a more difficult postoperative course, with possible associated prolonged mechanical ventilation, ECMO use, and higher mortality than in children with tracheal stenosis alone.