Caceres Manuel, Daggett Casey, Lutterman Joel, Gilbert Christian
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
Congenit Heart Dis. 2006 Jul;1(4):175-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0803.2006.00030.x.
Acyanotic congenital heart diseases may occasionally present with tracheobronchial obstruction. Increased pulmonary blood flow against a high-resistance pulmonary bed may create significant pulmonary artery dilation.
We report an unusual case of ventricular septal defect and right aortic arch coarctation, complicated with distal tracheal compression secondary to a pincer effect created by a right aortic arch and a massively dilated pulmonary artery.
High index of suspicion is required to anticipate tracheobronchial compression in acyanotic congenital heart diseases.
Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is an invaluable tool to assess for tracheal compression relief following surgical repair and to identify tracheomalacia prior to extubation.