title: Review of pediatric airway malacia and its management, with emphasis on stenting.
abstract: Malacia of the pediatric airway presents itself in a variety of clinical circumstances. Pediatric airway stenting is a more recent treatment modality. Complications may necessitate stent removal. This is usually performed bronchoscopically. We were forced to surgically remove a complicated airway stent. The Palmaz stent had been inserted for bronchomalacia presenting after interrupted aortic arch surgery in a 4-month old child with DiGeorge syndrome. This prompted us to review pediatric airway malacia, its management options and long-term outcomes, in an attempt to crystallize the current status of this relatively uncommon and difficult issue. The role of stents is analysed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN, UK. jain_freeman@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jain Bhaskara
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods