Thoracoscopic aortopexy for severe primary tracheomalacia

Primary tracheomalacia is a congenital condition in which the tracheal wall is weak. When the weakness is severe, the trachea can collapse during inspiration, obstructing the normal airflow. It is often associated with congenital abnormalities of the oesophagus. Symptoms may include breathing problems, such as coughing, wheezing, high-pitched breathing (stridor), respiratory tract infections and reflex apnoea/bradycardia ('dying spells'). In addition, there may be feeding difficulties. Mild to moderate symptoms in children usually improve with age. Treatments for children with this condition include the use of humidified air, chest physiotherapy and medication to control infection. Supplemental oxygen is sometimes required and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may be used to treat short-term respiratory distress.

Surgery may be required if conservative management fails or if symptoms are severe (such as in reflex apnoea/bradycardia). Surgical options include endoluminal or extraluminal stenting of the trachea, tracheostomy, segmental tracheal resection, and open aortopexy.

Thoracoscopic aortopexy is performed under general anaesthesia. A telescope and other instruments are inserted into the mediastinum through small incisions on the chest wall and used to visualise the operative field and to carry out the procedure. The left lobe of the thymus is moved aside or removed to expose the aortic arch. Several polypropylene sutures are passed through the sternum and into the mediastinum in close proximity to the aortic arch. These are tightened so that the aortic arch and the trachea that lies behind it are both pulled forward, making the tracheal wall less likely to collapse on inspiration. Adequacy of the procedure can be verified by intraoperative bronchoscopy, which shows an enlarged tracheal lumen.

In a case series of six children, there were two recurrences of life-threatening events after thoracoscopic aortopexy (at 2 and 4 weeks respectively), after which both children underwent a repeat procedure. At a mean follow-up of 27 months, all six children were described as 'doing well' with no further life-threatening events.

A case report stated that two children improved 'dramatically' after the procedure and all stridor disappeared. Oxygen saturation improved from less than 85% to 90% before surgery to 96% to 100% postoperatively. Both children gained weight and were well at 17‑month and 27‑month follow-up.

A second case report of a child treated with thoracoscopic aortopexy stated that a follow-up bronchoscopy 7 months after surgery showed the child had a patent airway with no significant collapse. At 22‑month follow-up the child was well, no longer fatigued easily with activity and had experienced no more reflex apnoea/bradycardia spells.

A third case report of a child treated with thoracoscopic aortopexy reported appropriate growth and no feeding or respiratory difficulties at follow-up (period not stated).

A fourth case report stated that there was immediate resolution of tracheomalacia after thoracoscopic aortopexy and long-term resolution of clinical respiratory symptoms at 1 year. For more details, see the overview.

The Specialist Advisers listed key efficacy outcomes as improvement of symptoms (cyanotic episodes, stridor and lower respiratory tract infections), the ability to breathe unsupported, the degree of correction as assessed at bronchoscopy, and growth (assessed using standard growth charts).

The case series of six children reported that no adverse events occurred. Two of the four case reports stated that there were no complications associated with the procedure and one stated that there was 'no notable blood loss'. One case report stated that extubation was delayed because of upper airway oedema (resolved with steroid treatment). For more details, see the overview.

The Specialist Advisers listed potential adverse events as life-threatening haemorrhage that cannot be controlled without opening the chest, temporary or permanent injury to one or both phrenic nerves, pneumothorax, and mediastinitis.

The Committee noted that the National Commissioning Group (NCG), which has a remit to commission highly specialised national services for very rare conditions for the population of England, has designated and commissioned Great Ormond Street Hospital to provide a service for complex tracheal disease, including severe tracheomalacia. Scottish residents also have access to the service under an agreement between the NCG and the National Services Division, Scotland. Health Commission Wales has a separate agreement with the provider for Welsh residents.