[Evaluation with chest CT scan of CPAP as a treatment for tracheobronchomalacia in the frame of a Mounier-Kuhn syndrome].

INTRODUCTION

Tracheobronchomegaly disease is often associated with a tracheobronchomalacia which is responsible for recurrent lower respiratory tract infections. Currently there is no evidence to support any specific treatment for the condition.

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a 79 years old patient presenting with tracheobronchomegaly in the context of Mounier-Kuhn syndrome complicated by a tracheobronchomalacia responsible for her symptomatology. The diagnosis of tracheobronchomalacia had been confirmed by high-resolution chest computed tomography (CT) with expiratory slices and virtual bronchoscopy. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was proposed, and we confirmed its efficacy using high-resolution chest CT, which showed a decrease in tracheobronchial collapse and a reduction in air trapping.

CONCLUSIONS

Three-dimensional virtual bronchoscopy is an interesting tool and a noninvasive method to diagnose tracheobronchomegaly for patients who are at a high anesthetic risk. It is also possible to use it demonstrate the effect of CPAP in tracheobronchomalacia.