A Case of Tracheomalacia in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: What Went Wrong?

Authors

• Carmen Tavares Pais Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Unidade Hospitalar de Vila Real, Vila Real, Portugal
• Rita Carneiro Silva Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Unidade Hospitalar de Vila Real, Vila Real, Portugal
• Teresa Gomes Pneumology, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Unidade Hospitalar de Vila Real, Vila Real, Portugal
• Sónia Carvalho Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Unidade Hospitalar de Vila Real, Vila Real, Portugal

carmenetp@gmail.com

Keywords

Abstract

Tracheobronchomalacia is defined as loss of the structural integrity of airway wall cartilaginous structures with hyperdynamic airway collapse during respiration. It is a common finding in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but is not always symptomatic, especially if airway narrowing is mild. Symptoms and signs develop as the severity of airway narrowing progresses. When a patient is symptomatic, a prompt study with computerized tomography and flexible bronchoscopy is mandatory for future management. We present a case of tracheobronchomalacia in a patient with COPD whose diagnosis and treatment were challenging.