II. Pathophysiology
- Tracheal rings are cartilagenous structures that offer flexible support to the trachea
- Normally, tracheal rings are open posteriorly
- Leaves up to one third of the trachea without a rigid support in back
- Some newborns have a Congenital Anomaly with a ring that completely encloses the trachea
- May significantly decrease the tracheal diameter
III. Findings
- Typically presents in the first few months of life
- Recurrent episodes
- Triggers for episodic respiratory distress
IV. Management
- Up to 80% of children require surgical management
V. References
- Mehta and Eliason (2024) Crit Dec Emerg Med 38(6): 27-35