Avoidance of a potential tracheoinnominate fistula by innominate artery re-implantation in a four year old girl with tracheostomy dependence and Pfeiffer syndrome

Abstract

A 4 year old tracheostomy dependent girl with Pfeiffer syndrome was noted on bronchoscopy to have a pulsatile tracheostomal mass. CT chest angiography was consistent with the innominate artery crossing anterior to the trachea and superior to the sternal notch. The patient underwent reimplantation of the innominate artery via a median sternotomy approach. Tracheoinnominate fistula is a potentially devastating complication of tracheostomy. We report discovery of a near tracheoinnominate fistula in order to highlight the importance of regular interval surveillance endoscopy in tracheostomy dependent children and to discuss a preventative surgical intervention employed in prevention of this potentially devastating complication.

Keywords: Complication; Morbidity; Tracheoinnominate fistula; Tracheostomy.