Fatal complication from a balloon-expandable tracheal stent in a child: a case report.
OBJECTIVE
The use of airway stents in the pediatric population is uncommon, reflected in the few patient series reported in the literature. We describe a fatal complication of tracheal stent placement in an 18-month-old child with spondylothoracic dysplasia.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Intensive care unit of a tertiary academic pediatric center.


METHODS
An 18-month-old child with spondylothoracic dysplasia who underwent tracheal stent placement for tracheomalacia.


METHODS
Management of an acute upper-airway hemorrhage.


RESULTS
The patient died, despite aggressive interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of tracheal stents in pediatric patients with tracheomalacia is not without risks; tracheal erosion with severe hemoptysis is an infrequent but devastating complication of this intervention.
Stotz
William H
WH
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Berkowitz
Ivor D
ID
Hoehner
Jeff C
JC
Tunkel
David E
DE
D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010009:Osteochondrodysplasias / Q000150:complications; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*