OBJECTIVE: To underline the importance of vascular rings causing stridor in newborns infants. CASE DESCRIPTION: Case 1: term female newborn infant with prenatal history of polyhydramnios that presented stridor in the delivery room. She was treated with endotracheal intubation and moderate ventilator settings. She improved her respiratory distress after the insertion of the endotracheal tube deeper than usual. This fact prompted the investigation of extrinsic tracheal compression. A double aortic arch was diagnosed, which had satisfactory surgical outcome. Case 2: a seven-month old girl with stridor since birth and previous diagnosis of laryngomalacia had several hospital admissions due to respiratory distress. In her last hospital stay, she improved after a selective intubation of the right main bronchus, suggesting the presence of extrinsic tracheal compression. After the diagnosis of a vascular ring, she was submitted to the surgical correction, but she died soon after surgery. COMMENTS: Vascular rings are not the main cause of upper airway obstruction in newborn infants but they should be considered in the differencial diagnosis. The low index of suspicion delays diagnosis and treatment and increases the risk of tracheomalacia and esophageal dysmotility, even after surgical repair.
infant, newborn; respiratory sounds; tracheal stenosis; aorta, thoracic
