[A case of surgically treated newborn with congenital tracheal stenosis].

This is a case report of a newborn with congenital tracheal stenosis which was fortunately healed by surgery. A 2,650 g female infant was born at 39 wk gestation. She began having respiratory difficulty soon after birth. Prompt endotracheal intubation was attempted, but failed. She was transferred to our hospital under assisted ventilation. Chest roentgenogram and bronchoscopy demonstrated segmental narrowing of the trachea about 2 cm distal from the vocal cord. A surgical operation was performed because respiratory management would not be enough to save the infant. Through a transverse collar incision and an upper median sternotomy, a stenotic 7 mm length of the trachea was resected and anastomosed with 5-0 Dexon suture. Postoperative course was uneventful. Histologically, the stenotic segment consisted of hypoplasia of the tracheal cartilage and fibrosis of the membranous portion. Squamous metaplasia was also recognized. There was no other report of tracheal stenosis successfully operated during the period of newborn.