Treatment

Slide Tracheoplasty

Key Points About Slide Tracheoplasty

Slide tracheoplasty is surgery to correct a narrow trachea (windpipe) present at birth and enlarges your child’s airway so they can breathe. It addresses a condition called complete tracheal rings, where the cartilage in your child’s trachea grows into tight rings. These rings cause a narrowing of the trachea and make breathing difficult.

Slide tracheoplasty can also be used to address tracheal stenosis or narrowing of the windpipe.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is slide tracheoplasty?

What are the benefits of slide tracheoplasty?

What are the risks of slide tracheoplasty?

What happens before a slide tracheoplasty?

What happens during a slide tracheoplasty?

Slide tracheoplasty takes place in a hospital operating room and the procedure itself takes several hours.

Your child is asleep under general anesthesia.
Your child may be connected to an ECMO machine that helps do the work of the heart and lungs while surgery is taking place.
A surgical opening is made in your child’s neck.
The doctors divide the trachea where the tightening is the most severe.
A vertical, V-shaped opening is made in both halves.
The doctor brings together the two parts and sews them together to create a shorter, wider trachea.
If your child has a related heart defect, the doctors may be able to address it in the same operation.

What happens after a slide tracheoplasty?

Your child is disconnected from the ECMO machine, and the team inserts a breathing tube.
The doctor will use a bronchoscope to look inside the trachea to check the surgical area.
Your child will spend several days in pediatric critical care (PICU) under sedation to let the surgery heal.
When your child is awake, doctors will assess any issues related to swallowing or speech.
When it is safe for you to care for your child at home, your child will be released from the hospital.
You and your child will follow up with the surgeon to monitor healing.