Diagnosis and management of an elderly patient with severe tracheomalacia: A case report and review of the literature

Severe adult tracheomalacia is a dangerous disease that is difficult to manage, particularly at the time of airway infection, and has a high mortality rate. The present study reports the diagnosis and treatment of an elderly patient with severe adult tracheomalacia. In March 2012, the 59-year-old patient presented with progressive dyspnea to the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Taizhou People’s Hospital (Jiangsu, China). Following admission, chest radiography revealed symptoms consistent with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an evident stenosis of the tracheal lumen at the end of expiration. Bronchoscopy revealed a 91% reduction in the cross-sectional area of the tracheal lumen at the end of expiration. Following the final diagnosis, the patient was successfully treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) combined with implantation of a temporary Chinese Li’s metallic stent. These treatment methods appeared to be temporarily effective in alleviating the symptoms of the disease.