Abstract
A case of severely handicapped boy with tracheomalacia is reported. He was admitted to our institution at the age of 3 years and 4 months because of severe psychomotor retardation. At the age of 12 years and 7 months, an episode of stridor and dyspnea was seen at first and developed following several years. These episodes were thought as “laryngospasms” due to unknown origin untill the extreme collapse of the trachea was endoscopically revealed 5 years later. It was well controlled by a tracheostomy done with use of cannulation, but succumbed to sudden tracheal bleeding 10 months following the procedure.
The etiology of the tracheomalacia was suggested to be the weakness of the airway wall caused by recurrent laryngospasms, the cause of which remained to be searched thereafter.
It is necessary to recognize such an airway disorder as one of those factors which may lead a handicapped child to critical condition.
