A newborn with transposition of the great vessels and long-segment tracheal stenosis

Congenital tracheal stenosis is an uncommonly associated malformation in children with congenital heart defects. Airway symptomatology should prompt immediate work-up to prevent a delay in diagnosis. Although results to date show acceptable mortality and morbidity for simultaneous repair of tracheal stenosis and cardiac anomalies there are cases where the severity of the lesion in association with other anomalies increases the mortality significantly. We report about a newborn diagnosed with transposition of the great vessels and several other anomalies who developed progressively worsening respiratory distress. Imaging revealed long-segment tracheal stenosis. The family was offered the option of slide tracheoplasty but decided not to pursue any further surgical intervention. The patient soon thereafter died.