Thoracoscopic lobectomy for the treatment of tracheal bronchus. A paediatric case report

Abstract Background Tracheal bronchus is considered a rare, congenital anomaly, which implies the abnormal origin of a bronchus. When related to repetitive infections the bronchus must be resected, usually via an open procedure. Objective The aim of this paper is to present the case of a patient with tracheal bronchus of the upper right lobe who presented with repetitive pneumonias. Additionally, this text intends to expose the methodology for its diagnosis and surgical resolution through a thoracoscopic lobectomy. Clinical case One year old female patient who presented with the disorder at two months of age. The patient presented with constant coughing and persistent fever alongside repetitive pneumonias in the upper right lobe. In order to discard the possibility of gastroesophageal reflux, a bronchoscopy and a panendoscopy of the digestive tube were conducted. The aforesaid procedure demonstrated the existence of a tracheal bronchus located in the right lobe, with functional bronchial segmentation. With these findings and due to the presence of repetitive infections, an apical right lobectomy was performed through a thoracoscopy, with favourable results. Conclusions Tracheal bronchus is a rare anomaly that on many occasions is asymptomatic; nonetheless, when related to repetitive infections, a lobectomy must be carried out to avoid further pulmonary damage. This can be done through a thoracoscopy, as was the case with our patient. When treating these patients, it is worth considering they tend to have a different anatomy and to consider the ease at which they can sustain severe inflammation due to repetitive infections.