II. Epidemiology
- Presents in infancy
III. Pathophysiology
- Weakness and softness of the trachea's cartilage and walls
- Abnormally soft cartilage more easily collapses, narrowing the trachea, especially with expiration
- May result in difficult clearance of airway secretions
IV. Causes
- Congenital (most common)
- Other congenital anomalies
- Tracheoesophageal fistula
- Vascular Ring
- Prolonged intubation
- Prolonged Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux disease
V. Signs
- Barking cough
- Expiratory Wheeze or expiratory Stridor
- Provocative factors (increase Wheezing)
VI. Diagnosis
- Bronchoscopy while child breathes spontaneously
VII. Management
- Consult pediatric pulmonology
- Supportive care (most cases)
- Severe Tracheomalacia
VIII. Course
- Self limited
- Improves by age 12 to 24 months
IX. References
- Mehta and Eliason (2024) Crit Dec Emerg Med 38(6): 27-35
- Benjamin (1984) Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 93:438-42 [PubMed]
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Related Studies
| Definition (MSH) | A congenital or acquired condition of underdeveloped or degeneration of CARTILAGE in the TRACHEA and the BRONCHI. This results in a floppy non-rigid airway making patency difficult to maintain. |
| Definition (MSHCZE) | Vrozený nebo získaný stav nedovyvinuté nebo degenerované chrupavky v PRŮDUŠNICI a v PRŮDUŠKÁCH. Je pak obtížné udržovat průchodnost ochablých a nezpevněných vzduchových cest. |
| Definition (NCI) | A rare congenital or acquired disorder characterized by excessive collapsibility of the trachea and major bronchi resulting in breathing problems. It is caused by damage to the tracheobronchial cartilage. |
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| MSH | D055089 |
| SnomedCT | 233788001 |
| English | WILLIAMS-CAMPBELL SYNDROME, Tracheobronchomalacia, Chondromalacia of Trachea and Bronchi, Tracheobronchomalacias, Tracheobronchomalacia [Disease/Finding], Syndrome, Williams-Campbell, Williams-Campbell Syndrome, Williams Campbell Syndrome, Williams-Campbell syndrome, Tracheobronchomalacia (disorder) |
| Spanish | Condromalacia de la Tráquea y Bronquios, Traqueobroncomalacia, síndrome de Williams-Campbell, traqueobronquiomalacia (trastorno), traqueobronquiomalacia |
| French | Trachéobronchomalacie, Syndrome de Williams-Campbell |
| Italian | Tracheobroncomalacia, Condromalacia della trachea e dei bronchi, Condromalacia tracheo-bronchiale |
| Russian | ХОНДРОМАЛЯЦИЯ ТРАХЕЙ И БРОНХОВ, ТРАХЕОБРОНХОМАЛЯЦИЯ, KHONDROMALIATSIIA TRAKHEI I BRONKHOV, TRAKHEOBRONKHOMALIATSIIA |
| German | Chondromalazie der Luftröhre und Bronchien, Tracheobronchomalazie |
| Portuguese | Traqueobroncomalácia, Condromalacia da Traqueia e dos Brônquios |
| Swedish | Trakeobronkomalaci |
| Czech | tracheobronchomalacie, trachea a bronchy - chondromalacie, Williamsův-Campbellův syndrom |
| Polish | Wiotkość tchawicy i oskrzeli, Tracheobronchomalacja |
| Japanese | 気管-気管支軟化症, 気管気管支軟化症, 気管･気管支軟化症 |
| Norwegian | Trakeobronkomalasi, Kondromalasi i luftrør og bronkier, Brusksykdom i luftrør og luftveier |
Ontology: Tracheomalacia (C0948187)
| Definition (MSH) | A congenital or acquired condition of underdeveloped or degeneration of CARTILAGE in the TRACHEA. This results in a floppy tracheal wall making patency difficult to maintain. It is characterized by wheezing and difficult breathing. |
| Definition (MSHCZE) | Regresivní změna průdušnice s výrazným změknutím chrupavek. Může vzniknout např. lokálně z dlouhodobého útlaku např. strumou či při zánětech nebo v rámci celkové chondromalacie. Může způsobovat poruchy ventilace. (cit. Velký lékařský slovník online, 2013 http://lekarske.slovniky.cz/ ) |
| Definition (NCI) | A congenital or acquired abnormality of the wall of the trachea. In congenital cases, there is lack of rigidity in the cartilage of the tracheal wall. In acquired cases, the cartilage of the tracheal wall is degenerated, secondary to tracheostomy or prolonged presence of a breathing tube, or as a complication of a tracheoesophageal fistula surgical repair. Symptoms include stridor, noisy breathing, and upper respiratory infections. |
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| MSH | D055090 |
| SnomedCT | 266411000, 155627006, 95434006 |
| Dutch | tracheomalacie (excl. congenitaal), tracheomalacie |
| French | Trachéomalacie (excl congénitale), Trachéomalacie, Chondromalacie de la trachée |
| German | Tracheomalazie (ausschl kongenital), Chondromalazie der Luftröhre, Tracheomalazie |
| Italian | Tracheomalacia (congenita esclusa), Condromalacia della trachea, Tracheomalacia, Condromalacia tracheale |
| Portuguese | Traqueomalacia (excl. congénita), Traqueomalácia, Condromalacia da Traqueia |
| Spanish | Traqueomalacia (excl congénita), Condromalacia de la Tráquea, Traqueomalacia, Condromalacia Traqueal, traqueomalacia (trastorno), traqueomalacia, Traqueomalasia |
| Japanese | 気管軟化症（先天性を除く）, ｷｶﾝﾅﾝｶｼｮｳ, ｷｶﾝﾅﾝｶｼｮｳｾﾝﾃﾝｾｲｦﾉｿﾞｸ, 気管軟化症 |
| English | Tracheomalacia, Tracheomalacias, Trachea Chondromalacia, Trachea Chondromalacias, Chondromalacia of Trachea, Tracheomalacia [Disease/Finding], tracheomalacia, Tracheomalacia (excl congenital), Tracheomalacia (disorder), Tracheomalacia (excluding congenital) |
| Czech | Tracheomalacie, Tracheomalacie (kromě kongenitální), trachea - chondromalacie, tracheomalacie |
| Russian | KHONDROMALIATSIIA TRAKHEI, ТРАХЕОМАЛЯЦИЯ, ХОНДРОМАЛЯЦИЯ ТРАХЕИ, TRAKHEOMALIATSIIA |
| Swedish | Trakeomalaci |
| Polish | Tracheomalacja, Rozmiękanie tchawicy wrodzone, Wiotkość tchawicy |
| Hungarian | Tracheomalacia, Tracheomalacia (kivéve veleszületett) |
| Norwegian | Brusksykdom i luftrør, Trakeomalasi, Kondromalasi i luftrør |
