Thoracoscopic aortopexy to treat severe tracheomalacia in children. Cases report.

OBJECTIVE

To present our experience in the treatment of the severe tracheomalacia by thoracoscopic approach, as well as its diagnostic methodology, surgical technique, post-operatory evolution and complications.

CLINICAL CASES: From 2016 to 2017, three patients, 3, 9 and 12 months old, were treated. They showed multiple near sudden death events and had an absolute dependence to assisted ventilation. Pre-operatory bronchoscopy evinced tracheal severe malacia. Thoracic angiotomography discarded other extrinsic tracheal compression causes. A left thoracoscopic aortopexy was practiced with a bronchoscopical trans-operatory control; with improvement in tracheal space. Just one patient is still awaiting cannula removal, without symptomatology recurrence in a 3-20 months follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

The thoracoscopic aortopexy is a safe and effective technique to treat primary and severe tracheomalacia in children.