Two case reports of unexpected tracheal agenesis in the neonate: 3 C's beyond algorithms for difficult airway management.
Handling neonates with postnatal respiratory failure due to congenital airway malformations implies knowledge about emergency management of unexpected difficult airway. In these stressful situations both technical and communication skills of the caretakers are essential.



Two cases with prenatally unknown tracheal agenesis are reported.



In the presented cases, airway malformation and subsequent difficulties upon endotracheal intubation were not adequately communicated between caretakers. We discuss the aspects of culture, communication, and capnography.
Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland. beate.grass@kispi.uzh.ch.|Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland. beate.grass@kispi.uzh.ch.
Beate
B
Grass
Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.|Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
Leopold
L
Simma
Department of Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
Michael
M
Reinehr
Department of Neonatology, Hospital Buelach, Spitalstrasse 24, 8180, Buelach, Switzerland.
Urs
U
Zimmermann
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.|Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
Claudine
C
Gysin
Department of Anesthesia, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.|Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
Georg
G
Henze
Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.|Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
Vincenzo
V
Cannizzaro
D058109:Airway Management / Q000379:methods*; D000465:Algorithms; D019296:Capnography; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D014132:Trachea / Q000002:abnormalities*
Capnography; Case report; Communication; Culture; Tracheal agenesis; Unexpected difficult airway