Aortopexy for Innominate Artery Compression of the Trachea
Andrew Scott, MD; Carl-Christian A. Jackson, MD; Walter Chwals, MD
Tufts University School of Medicine

Tracheomalacia is a rare congenital condition that results in incompetence of the trachea, the main airway, leading to collapse of the trachea during respiration. Most often this is due to inadequate bone formation in the trachea, and this causes it to be dynamically collapsed, which can result in breathing difficulties for the child. Upper respiratory infections can also be more common. While most cases of tracheomalacia resolve by 18 to 24 months of age, a small percentage either continue or cause such severe breathing or feeding issues that surgical intervention is warranted. In cases where the innominate artery is the cause of compression of the weakened trachea, an aortopexy to elevate the vessel up to the sternum and away from the trachea is performed.