Intermediate to late results of surgical relief of vascular tracheobronchial compression.

Since 1979, a total of 69 infants and children aged 0.1 to 11.9 (median 0.7) years required surgical intervention for: double aortic arch (26), anomalous origin of innominate artery (26), right aortic arch with left ligamentum arteriosum (9), pulmonary artery sling (5), retroesophageal right subclavian artery (3). Before operation, the morbidity was high: 84% of children were symptomatic in the first trimester of life with 24 patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Seven children had an accompanying heart defect. Left thoracotomy was the preferred approach. There were 2 early (asphyxic brain damage, postoperative pneumonia) and 2 late (tracheomalacia, complex heart defect) deaths. Five patients (2 originally operated elsewhere) needed reoperation for persistent symptoms. All 65 survivors are well 1 month to 11.9 (mean 3.9 +/- 3.62) years after surgery. Tracheobronchoscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, and lung function testing were helpful for postoperative evaluation. Minor tracheal compression was revealed in 4 patients despite their good clinical condition.