ACUTE AIRWAY-OBSTRUCTION IN THE HOSPITALIZED INFANT - 4 HARD LESSONS IN THE DISTAL TRACHEA

Acute obstructing lesions of the distal (lower) trachea present a uniq ue challenge to the pediatric otolaryngologist. The small caliber of t he airway and tenuous medical status of such patients test the ingenui ty of the surgeon and the limits of instrumentation. This report prese nts the operative findings and management of four hospitalized infants with worsening respiratory distress. Difficulties encountered in main taining airway control while diagnosing and correcting these lesions a re described.