Anaesthetic management of an infant with tracheomalacia scheduled for computed tomography angiography: A challenge

Abstract

Tracheomalacia is characterised by collapse of the tracheal wall with respiration. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) can be utilised for evaluation of airway abnormalities but providing sedation/anaesthesia for CTA in such a case carries the risk of airway catastrophe. We describe the anaesthetic management of an infant who had tracheomalacia with >90% collapse in lower two third of the intrathoracic trachea as diagnosed on videobronchoscpy and was scheduled for CTA.

Keywords

• Airway
• bronchomalacia
• CT angiography
• general anaesthesia
• sedation
• tracheomalacia