National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Congenital tracheomalacia


Other Names:
Tracheomalacia, congenital; Type 1 tracheomalacia; Congenital major airway collapse
Categories:
Congenital tracheomalacia is when an infant is born with weak cartilage around the windpipe (trachea) that makes it difficult to keep the airway open.[1] The trachea can collapse when breathing out. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and may include noisy breathing (stridor), shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and bluish skin (cyanotic spells). Symptoms typically worsen during periods of activity. Tracheomalacia can occur on its own or along with other airway problems. It can also occur with congenital abnormalities that affect other parts of the body.[2] Tracheomalacia often resolves on its own by the second year of life.[1] Treatment of symptoms may include humidified air, chest physical therapy, or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for respiratory distress.[2] Severe tracheomalacia may need to be treated with surgery.[1]
Last updated: 2/2/2017
Diagnosis typically includes reviewing the infant's medical history and performing a bronchoscopy to view the airway. Additional tests that may be considered include CT scan, dynamic MRI, or fluoroscopy.[1][3]
Last updated: 2/2/2017
The long-term outlook of congenital tracheomalacia is good in children with no associated problems. These children tend to improve by age 2.[4] Children who have tracheomalacia in combination with other malformations tend to have symptoms that last into later childhood.[5] Studies suggest that some people with tracheomalacia have exercise intolerance as adults.[5] 

Possible serious complications of tracheomalacia include complete airway blockage, repeat infection, respiratory failure, and failure to thrive. Treatments to prevent these complications include positive pressure ventilatory support (cPAP) or surgery (e.g., aortopexy, tracheopexy, tracheal stent). Surgery is reserved for treatment of very serious cases.[5][4][6]
Last updated: 2/2/2017

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Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Congenital tracheomalacia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  • Is this a condition to be very worried about in a one month old infant? Should tests be performed to confirm diagnosis, or just presume that is what it is and that the infant will out grow it? What are the dangers associated with this defect in terms of sleeping and breathing and feeding? And finally, how common is it that other congenital defects may be present? See answer


  1. Snijders D, Barbato A. An Update on Diagnosis of Tracheomalacia in Children. Eur J Pediatr Surg. August, 2015; 25(4):333-335. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26276910.
  2. Daniel S Schwartz. Tracheomalacia. Medscape Reference. July 20, 2016; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/426003-overview.
  3. Testing & Diagnosis for Tracheomalacia in Children. http://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/t/tracheomalacia/testing-and-diagnosis. Accessed 2/2/2017.
  4. Hysinger EB, Panitch HB. Paediatric Tracheomalacia. Paediatr. Respir. Rev. January 2016; 17:9-15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25962857.
  5. Oermann CM. Congenital anomalies of the intrathoracic airways and tracheoesophageal fistula. UpToDate. Dec 7, 2016;
  6. Tracheomalacia Symptoms & Causes. Boston Children's Hospital. http://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/t/tracheomalacia/symptoms-and-causes. Accessed 2/2/2017.