Bronchodilator responsiveness in a ventilator-dependent infant with severetracheobronchomalacia

A neonatal case of severe, ventilator-dependent tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is described. The extent of the malacic segment was determined by endoscop y and tracheobronchography. Additionally, relevant and ever increasing reve rsible peripheral airway obstruction was documented by measuring the mechan ical properties of the respiratory system before and after salbutamol. With the combination of endoscopically guided aortopexy and salbutamol infusion , the infant was eventually weaned from mechanical ventilation at the age o f 86 days. We speculate that in ventilator-dependent infants with severe TB M the determination of bronchodilator responsiveness may have clinical cons equences.