Surgical management of congenital tracheal stenosis

Long-segment tracheal stenosis in infants and children is difficult to manage and can be life-threatening. Patients frequently have associated cardiac, other respiratory, or gastrointestinal anomalies that may confuse the diagnosis at initial presentation. The rarity of congenital tracheal stenosis has not allowed sufficient experience for the development of standard treatment protocol. Several surgical techniques have been described but have varying results. This article reviews the diagnosis and different surgical options for congenital tracheal stenosis and their outcomes.