ERS Statement on Tracheomalacia and Bronchomalacia in Children.
File(s)ERS statement on TBM - FINAL.docx (443.16 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Tracheomalacia (TM) and tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) may be primary abnormalities of the large airways or associated with a wide variety of congenital and acquired conditions. The evidence on diagnosis, classification and management is scant. There is no universally accepted classification of severity. Clinical presentation includes early-onset stridor or fixed wheeze, recurrent infections, brassy cough and even near-death attacks, depending on the site and severity of the lesion. Diagnosis is usually made by flexible bronchoscopy in a free-breathing child but may also be shown by other dynamic imaging techniques such as low contrast volume bronchography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Lung function testing can provide supportive evidence but is not diagnostic. Management may be medical or surgical, depending on the nature and severity of the lesions but the evidence base for any therapy is limited. While medical options that include bronchodilators, anti-muscarinic agents, mucolytics and antibiotics, (as well as treatment of co-morbidities and associated conditions) are used, there is currently little evidence for benefit. Chest physiotherapy is commonly prescribed, but the evidence base is poor. When symptoms are severe, surgical options include aortopexy or posterior tracheopexy, tracheal resection of short affected segments, internal stents and external airway splinting. If respiratory support is needed, CPAP is the most commonly used modality either via a facial mask or tracheostomy. Parents of children with TBM report diagnostic delays and anxieties about how to manage their child's condition, and want more information. There is a need for more research to establish an evidence base for malacia. This statement provides a review of the current literature to inform future study.
Date Issued
2019-07-18
Date Acceptance
2019-07-01
Citation
European Respiratory Journal, 2019, 54 (1)
ISSN
0903-1936
Publisher
European Respiratory Society
Journal / Book Title
European Respiratory Journal
Volume
54
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
©ERS 2019. This is an author-submitted, peer-reviewed version of a manuscript that has been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal, prior to copy-editing, formatting and typesetting. This version of the manuscript may not be duplicated or reproduced without prior permission from the copyright owner, the European Respiratory Society. The publisher is not responsible or liable for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or in any version derived from it by any other parties. The final, copy-edited, published article, which is the version of record, is available without a subscription 18 months after the date of issue publication.
Sponsor
Asthma UK
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31320455
PII: 13993003.00382-2019
Grant Number
R43065
Subjects
Respiratory System
11 Medical and Health Sciences
Publication Status
Published online
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2019-07-18