title: Spontaneous tracheal and subglottic tears in neonates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spontaneous rupture of the trachea or subglottis as a complication of difficult delivery has not been reported in the United States literature. There have been a few cases reported in the European literature. The present report describes a series of newborns with this complication and discusses the signs and treatment options of this difficult, life-threatening problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newborns born between 1996 and 2001 who were treated for spontaneous subglottic or tracheal rupture at a tertiary care children's hospital neonatal intensive care unit were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four cases of spontaneous subglottic rupture were seen at the hospital. In three of the four cases the tracheas were intubated on an emergency basis after subcutaneous air was noted in the anterior aspect of the neck. In the fourth patient the trachea was not intubated until the subglottic tear was visualized intraoperatively. Two of the four patients died. One died without securing of an airway; the other died of complications of prolonged hypoxia. Eight cases from European literature of spontaneous neonatal subglottic and tracheal tears are reviewed and are compared with the cases presented in the current report.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early detection of airway rupture by flexible endoscopy is essential for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Standard endotracheal intubation can exacerbate the problem and should be deferred if possible until direct airway visualization can be accomplished. Signs associated with tracheal tears include subcutaneous emphysema, respiratory distress, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum. These should lead to emergent consultation with otolaryngologists for examination and securing of the airway.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital-Minneapolis and the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah S F
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kacmarynski
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sidman
authors.forename: Frank L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Rimell
authors.forename: Virginia A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Hustead
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy