A combination of tracheoplasty and tracheal stenting is an acceptable method of treating severe congenital tracheobronchial stenosis under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Background Congenital tracheobronchial stenosis (CTBS) is a rare congenital condition characterized by complete cartilage rings covering varying lengths of the major airway. In this study, we reviewed the outcomes of patients with CTBS receiving surgical tracheoplasty in our institute. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of consecutive patients with CTBS operated between 2006 and 2017 when extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was used perioperatively. Results In total, 11 patients (median follow-up period, 4.2 years; interquartile range, 1.6–5.4) were included. Seven were symptomatic in the neonatal period, 10 had cardiorespiratory anomalies, 7 required preoperative bronchoscopic balloon dilatation, and 1 required preoperative stent placement. Slide tracheoplasty (STP) was performed in 9 patients, and 2 underwent pericardial patch tracheoplasty. Seven patients required postoperative balloon dilatation, and 6 required postoperative stent placement. Early stenting provided immediate ventilatory improvement in all patients and facilitated successful extubation in a median of 4 days after stenting in 80% of the patients. Conclusions Under ECMO, severe CTBS could be successfully treated through a combination of tracheoplasty and bronchoscopic management. STP provided excellent results for solitary trachea stenosis with a minimum diameter of ≥ 3 mm. In selected patients, postoperative tracheobronchial stent placement was crucial in minimizing the ECMO duration and facilitating extubation. Level of Evidence IV