Tracheomalacia in infants and children.

Tracheomalacia is characterized by an expiratory tracheal collapse. The rev ealing clinical features usually occur after a symptom-free period during t he first year of life (during the first three months in 60% of cases): main ly stridor, wheezing, chronic cough, apnoeic attacks, and difficult breathi ng. Tracheoscopy allows the differentiation of primary tracheomalacia and t racheomalacia secondary to pressure on the trachea from the vascular ring o r mediastinal tumour. Tracheomalacia is also frequently associated with oes ophagal atresia. Surgical treatment is indicated in severe and secondary fo rms. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.