Intermittent airway obstruction in a child caused by a cervical lipoblastoma

Abstract

Severe intermittent airway obstruction was caused by a lipoblastoma in a 9-month-old boy. The tumor was located in the lower part of the neck and moved into the thoracic inlet causing compression of the trachea when he moved his head forwards. A tumor compressing or obstructing the trachea is infrequently the cause of airway obstruction in infants and children. Nevertheless, overlooking a tumor may have serious consequences when giving anesthesia due to the risk of difficulties with artificial ventilation depending on the localisation of the tumor. Every case of unexplained respiratory failure must be subject to a systematic approach that considers lung disease, bronchoconstriction, large airway obstruction, and external compression of the airway.