[CT-guided interventional treatment of subglottic tracheal atresia via rigid bronchoscopy: a report of 8 cases].

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CT-guided interventional treatment for subglottic tracheal atresia performed with a rigid bronchoscope.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical characteristics, diagnostic and treatment processes, and clinical outcomes of eight patients with subglottic tracheal atresia who were admitted to the Emergency General Hospital from January 2021 to May 2025. Therapeutic efficacy before and after tracheal recanalization was compared. Procedure-related complications at 1 week and 1 month after stent placement were analyzed, and the timing of stent removal was recorded.

Results

Among the eight patients, silicone stents were successfully placed in two cases, Montgomery T-tubes in five cases, and a metal tracheal cannula was maintained in one patient after tracheal recanalization. After the operation, all eight patients could breathe through the nose and resume normal pronunciation. The degree of lumen stenosis after the operation was from 30% to 80%, with a mean of (51.3±16.4)%, indicating successful recanalization of the atretic trachea (z=-2.536, P<0.05). There were no complications such as tracheal perforation, subcutaneous emphysema, or massive hemorrhage during and after the tracheal recanalization. There were no statistically significant differences in the relevant complications 1 week and 1 month after the placement of the Montgomery T-tube, silicone stent, and metal tracheostomy cannula (P>0.05). The patients were followed up for 2-30 (11.6±9.0) months, and the T-tubes were successfully removed in two cases.

Conclusion

CT-guided interventional treatment of subglottic tracheal atresia using a rigid bronchoscope is a minimally invasive, effective, and safe therapeutic approach.