Interposition Pericardial Flap After Slide Tracheoplasty in Pulmonary Artery Sling Complex

Abstract

Children undergoing an extensive tracheoplasty, particularly those with associated cardiovascular anomalies, may require long cardiopulmonary bypass, prolonged ventilatory support, subsequent tracheostomy, and multiple reinterventions on the trachea. Thus, these rare patients are at risk of mediastinitis. With tracheal erosion into the adjacent vessels and tracheal perforation during subsequent bronchoscopic interventions. Herein we describe a simple technique of interposition pericardial flap that provides an effective seal and isolation of the tracheoplasty site. © 2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.