Gruentzig balloon catheter dilation for acquired bronchial stenosis in an infant.

A long stricture of the left main bronchus, which was resistant to the traditional methods of treatment, developed in a 992-gm twin who was ventilated for 114 days. The patient had two bronchial dilations with the Gruentzig balloon catheter placed under fluoroscopic control and inflated to 6 atm of pressure. The treatment was well tolerated by the patient, and one year after the Gruentzig balloon dilation she had a normal chest roentgenogram. Gruentzig balloon catheter dilation is a new technique for repairing bronchial stenosis in infancy without major intrathoracic surgical intervention.