RESPIRATORY-FAILURE DUE TO TRACHEOBRONCHOMALACIA

A case is described of tracheobronchomegaly progressing to extensive t racheomalacia, complicated by episodic choking, recurrent pulmonary in fections, and irreversible hypercapnic respiratory failure. A Y-shaped tracheobronchial stent was placed endoscopically to splint the trache a open, with excellent clinical and physiological improvement. New ste nt designs may provide long term palliation in selected cases of diffu se tracheal collapse or stenosis, and offer an alternative to surgical repair.