• Shinya Takazawa, Hiroo Uchida, Hiroshi Kawashima, Yujiro Tanaka, Takayuki Masuko, Kyoichi Deie, Yuzo Nagase, and Tadashi Iwanaka.
• Department of Pediatric Surgery, Saitama Children's Medical Center, 2100 Magome, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama, Saitama, 339-8551, Japan, shinya.takazawa@gmail.com.
• Pediatr. Surg. Int. 2013 Nov 1;29(11):1165-9.

PurposeTracheobronchomalacia is a respiratory disorder that results from abnormal cartilage development. Since 2003, we have performed external stabilization for severe tracheobronchomalacia using separated ring-reinforced expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts. The aim of this study was to analyze the short- and long-term outcomes of our procedure.MethodsWe reviewed the charts of patients who underwent external tracheobronchial stabilization from January 2003 through December 2012. Separated ring-reinforced ePTFE grafts were fixed to the anterior and posterior lesions of malacia independently, with confirmation of a well-opened lumen by bronchoscopy.ResultsFive children with severe tracheobronchomalacia underwent six operations. The median follow-up period was 43 months (range 11-109 months). There was no operative mortality associated with the procedure. One patient required removal of a section of the graft owing to the development of bronchial granulation tissue at the site of fixation. All patients showed improved respiratory function, and tracheal growth was confirmed by follow-up computed tomography.ConclusionsExternal stabilization with separated ring-reinforced ePTFE grafts for severe tracheobronchomalacia is effective, less invasive than alternatives and preserves the growth potential of the affected airway segment.

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