High tracheal bifurcation: an unusual cause of left bronchial obstruction

Karthik Ramakrishnan; Tom Karl; David Kilner; Nelson Alphonso

doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.09.072

High tracheal bifurcation: an unusual cause of left bronchial obstruction

Ann Thorac Surg. 2014 Aug;98(2):699-701. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.09.072.

Authors

Karthik Ramakrishnan¹, Tom Karl², David Kilner³, Nelson Alphonso⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Mater Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: rkvdoc@rediffmail.com.
² Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Mater Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Department of Surgery, University of Queensland, Australia.
³ Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Mater Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁴ Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Mater Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

PMID: 25087793
DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.09.072

Abstract

Congenitally short trachea is an uncommon abnormality. It is characterized by a reduced number of tracheal cartilage rings. As a result, the carina is situated at a higher level than usual. That causes the left main bronchus to course abnormally behind the arch of the aorta, rendering it prone to compression. We report the case of an infant who underwent successful aortopexy of the aortic arch for this condition.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Airway Obstruction / etiology*
Airway Obstruction / surgery
Bronchial Diseases / etiology*
Bronchial Diseases / surgery
Humans
Infant
Male
Trachea / abnormalities*