title: Perspectives on neonatal and infant tracheostomy.
abstract: Neonates and infants may need a tracheostomy for many different reasons, ranging from airway obstruction to a requirement for long term mechanical ventilator support. Here, we present the pathophysiology of the many congenital and acquired conditions that might be managed with a tracheostomy. Decisions about tracheostomy demand consideration of not only the benefits, but also the potential side-effects, which may differ in the short and long term and may be attributable to underlying conditions as well as the tracheostomy. Evaluation of potential advantages of tracheostomy will influence decisions about optimal timing. In many cases, an infant may 'graduate' from dependence on a tracheostomy and resume a natural airway, although some will require reconstructive airway surgery.
authors.affiliation: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: demauro@email.chop.edu.
authors.forename: Sara B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: DeMauro
authors.affiliation: Nemours Children's Hospital, Orlando, FL, USA; University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Chronic lung disease; Laryngotracheal stenosis; Subglottic stenosis; Tracheostomy; Vocal cord paralysis