Infant in extremis: respiratory failure secondary to lower airway infantile hemangioma

BACKGROUND: Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are vascular tumors that commonly affect infants and usually regress spontaneously or can be easily treated as an outpatient with topical beta-blockers. However, IHs that present in the airway may cause life-threatening symptoms due to airway obstruction or risk of bleeding. Here we present the first documented case of an infant with rapid deterioration and acute respiratory failure secondary to a lower airway hemangioma. CASE PRESENTATION: This 3-month-old male initially presented in respiratory distress with symptoms consistent with a viral respiratory infection, however showed no clinical improvement with standard therapies. An urgent CT scan revealed a mass occluding the right mainstem bronchus. Upon transfer to a tertiary care facility, he developed acute respiratory failure requiring emergent intubation and single lung ventilation. The availability of multiple subspecialists allowed for stabilization of a critically ill child, expedited diagnosis, and ultimately initiation of life-saving treatment with beta blockers. After 17 total hospital days, he was extubated successfully and discharged home in good condition. CONCLUSIONS: While IH is a rare cause of infantile respiratory distress, we present multiple pearls for the general pediatrician for management of IHs of the airway.