Tracheomalacia

Tracheomalacia
Tracheomalacia
Specialty	Pulmonology
Symptoms	Stridor, noisy breathing, upper respiratory infections
Complications	Respiratory distress, pneumonia
Causes	Congenital defects, degeneration of tracheal wall, tracheostomy, prolonged presence of a breathing tube, complications from tracheoesophageal fistula surgical repair
Treatment	Management of symptoms, tracheostomy in severe cases

Tracheomalacia is a medical condition that involves an abnormal softening of the tracheal wall. This condition can be either congenital or acquired, depending on the underlying cause.

Classification

Tracheomalacia is typically classified into two types: congenital and acquired. In congenital tracheomalacia, there is an inherent lack of rigidity in the cartilage of the tracheal wall, usually due to developmental abnormalities in utero. Acquired tracheomalacia involves degeneration of the tracheal wall's cartilage, often secondary to medical interventions such as a tracheostomy or prolonged presence of a breathing tube, or as a complication of surgical repair of a tracheoesophageal fistula.

Symptoms

Patients with tracheomalacia often present with symptoms that include stridor (a high-pitched wheezing sound), noisy breathing, and recurrent upper respiratory infections. In severe cases, this can lead to respiratory distress and increased risk of pneumonia.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of tracheomalacia often involves imaging tests such as bronchoscopy or CT scans to visualize the trachea and assess its structure. Pulmonary function tests may also be used to evaluate respiratory function.

Treatment of tracheomalacia is largely focused on managing symptoms and preventing complications. Mild cases may be managed with observation and supportive care, including physiotherapy and management of respiratory infections. In severe cases, where respiratory distress is present, a tracheostomy may be performed to bypass the weakened portion of the trachea and secure the patient's airway.

See Also

• Tracheoesophageal fistula
• Tracheostomy
• Congenital disorders
• Respiratory disorders

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