title: Aortopexy for tracheomalacia in oesophageal anomalies.
abstract: Forty-eight patients with repaired congenital oesophageal anomaly underwent aortopexy for significant tracheomalacia between 1980 and 1990. Indications for aortopexy included recurrent apnoea/cyanosis in 31, near fatal episodes in 16, recurrent respiratory distress and infection in 20 and worsening stridor in 15. Gastro-oesophageal reflux was noted in 30 patients, recurrent fistula in 6 and oesophageal stricture in 14. Aortopexy cured near fatal episodes in all patients and resulted in improvement of airway obstruction in 95%. The procedure failed in 2 patients due to unrecognised bronchomalacia and phrenic nerve palsy respectively. Aortopexy is the primary procedure of choice for significant tracheomalacia when associated with near fatal episodes and significant airway obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Hospitals for Sick Children, London.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Corbally
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spitz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiely
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Brereton
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Drake
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000151:congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000151:congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome