Innominate Artery Compression Syndrome: A Real Entity

Extrinsic compromise of the lower airway in infants and children is most often due to vascular compression. Anterior tracheal compression caused by an aberrant course of the innominate artery is commonly referred to as innominate artery compression syndrome. We present a case of innominate artery compression syndrome causing severe tracheal compression precluding tracheostomy decannulation in a 6-year-old child who underwent previous neonatal repair of a left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia and coarctation of the aorta followed by tracheostomy and ventilator-dependent management of pulmonary hypoplasia and tracheobronchomalacia. Innominate artery translocation combined with aortopexy afforded adequate decompression without tracheoplasty for decannulation.