Complete tracheal rings and hypoplastic left heart variant: a rare and fatal association

Cardiol Young. 2019 Mar;29(3):445-447. doi: 10.1017/S1047951118002391. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Abstract

Congenital complete tracheal rings are usually associated with pulmonary slings. We report a rare association of congenital complete tracheal rings with hypoplastic left heart variant. A term infant with diagnosis of a mildly hypoplastic mitral valve, unicuspid aortic valve, and moderately hypoplastic aortic arch with severe coarctation underwent a hybrid procedure initially. Upon failing extubation attempts, complete tracheal rings were seen on direct laryngoscopy. The combination of the lesions resulted in a poor outcome. In patients with failure of extubation post-cardiac surgery, a diagnosis of complete tracheal rings should be included in the differential and a direct laryngoscopy should be considered.

Keywords: Complete tracheal rings; hypoplastic left heart; unicuspid aortic valve.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple*
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Echocardiography
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / surgery
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Laryngoscopy
  • Rare Diseases
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Trachea / abnormalities*
  • Tracheal Diseases / congenital*
  • Tracheal Diseases / diagnosis