Tracheomalacia and tracheomegaly in infants and children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia managed with and without fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO): a multicentre, retrospective cohort study
Tracheomalacia was 5% more common in tracheal occluded infants with 4% more cases
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Tracheomalacia symptoms typically receded within 55 months in FETO-treated infants
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FETO-treated infants showed a larger trachea, approximately 31% wider
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37% of tracheally occluded cases retained metallic balloon components
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No significant complications were reported from retained metallic balloon components
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Tracheal occlusion is effective in promoting lung growth
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FETO is associated with a higher risk of tracheomalacia
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Most cases of FETO-associated tracheomalacia resolve and do not appear to have long-term effects
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QUAD #1: Cervical Tracheopexy with Dr. Alessandro de Alarcon
Cincinnati Children's typically uses a combined cervical and thoracic approach for esophageal atresia cases.
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Preoperative testing includes dynamic CT imaging, pulmonary function tests, microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy, and flexible bronchoscopy.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizes what Dr. Alessandro de Alarcon said — not the host's own clinical position0:55 ↗
Required intraoperative equipment includes a neck tray, MLB tray, and Maloney dilators or NG tubes.
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Flexible bronchoscopy during the operation is key, and endotracheal tube placement must allow visualization during the procedure.
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Nasotracheal intubation is often used with the cuff positioned high, sometimes almost at the glottis.
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A NIM tube is preferred when possible to prevent injury to recurrent nerves or provide awareness when approaching them.
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The surgical approach uses subplatysmal flaps and addresses anterior compression as needed.
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The cervical approach can assist thoracoscopic procedures by removing residual or regrown large thymus tissue.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizes what Dr. Alessandro de Alarcon said — not the host's own clinical position2:01 ↗
Aortopexy and innominate artery pexy can be added at the same time as the cervical procedure.
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In the lateral approach, the surgical team works on the side of the airway to find the esophagus.
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Pediatric surgeons identify the recurrent nerve for the ENT team to help prevent injury.
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The Cincinnati team has learned not to be afraid of mobilizing the esophagus, which is important for the procedure.
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The esophagus is mobilized above the level where the team aims to perform the pexy, making suture placement easier.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizes what Dr. Alessandro de Alarcon said — not the host's own clinical position2:43 ↗
Stitches are sometimes placed in the trachea to pull it up and out of the way for visualization of the posterior aspect and spine.
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A pulmonologist assists with flexible endoscopy through the endotracheal tube to visualize inside the trachea while stitches are placed.
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The team uses 3-0 prolene sutures and places all stitches before securing them down.
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Suture placement is performed under spontaneous ventilation conditions.
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The combined approach is valuable for complicated cases or patients needing additional operations for symptom relief.
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizes what Dr. Alessandro de Alarcon said — not the host's own clinical position3:24 ↗
A patient who had prior thoracoscopic tracheopexy with dysphagia from torqued esophagus underwent the combined approach and became symptom-free.
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Outcome measures include follow-up endoscopy, pulmonary function tests when patients are old enough, and imaging.
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At 36 months follow-up, imaging may still show tracheomalacia, but patients can be symptomatically better.
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The team is still learning what measures should define good versus bad outcomes.
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