HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Jaime F. Vazquez-Jimenez Oliver J. Liakopoulos Bruno J. Messmer Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vazquez-Jimenez, J. F. Articles by Messmer, B. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vazquez-Jimenez, J. F. Articles by Messmer, B. J. Related Collections Trachea and bronchi

Ann Thorac Surg 2001;72:1898-1901
© 2001 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Original article: general thoracic

Aortopexy in severe tracheal instability: short-term and long-term outcome in 29 infants and children

^a Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
^b Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
^c Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care, Children’s Hospital, Cologne, Germany

Accepted for publication August 14, 2001.

* Address reprint requests to Dr Vazquez-Jimenez, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Pauwelsstr 30, D-52057 Aachen, Germany
e-mail: jvazquez-jimenez{at}post.klinikum.rwth-aachen.de

Background. Tracheal instability is a hazardous situation after operation for esophageal atresia. In cases with life-threatening apneas, aortopexy is a therapeutic option. To assess efficacy, short-term and long-term outcome was analyzed retrospectively.

Methods. Between 1985 and 2000, 29 patients (age, 1.5 months to 5.2 years) were operated on. A flaccid trachea after operation for esophageal atresia was the cause for life-threatening apneas in 27, and there was external vascular compression in 2 patients. The operative procedure consisted of ventropexy of the aortic arch to the sternum and ventral thoracic wall.

Results. There was neither early nor late mortality. A reversible lesion of the phrenic nerve was observed in 2 patients, a pneumothorax in 3, and secondary wound healing in 1. In all but 1 patient symptoms improved markedly or disappeared within days or within the first 3 months postoperatively. An increased susceptibility to respiratory infections was observed in long-term follow-up.

Conclusions. Aortopexy can be performed with no mortality and low morbidity. Aortopexy is effective to prevent further life-threatening apneas, but does not prevent an increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				U. Abdel-Rahman, P. Ahrens, H. G. Fieguth, R. Kitz, K. Heller, and A. Moritz Surgical treatment of tracheomalacia by bronchoscopic monitored aortopexy in infants and children Ann. Thorac. Surg., August 1, 2002; 74(2): 315 - 319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]