Study population
A retrospective study was performed on records of patients referred to the Gaslini Institute because of recurrent/chronic cough and found to have tracheomalacia associated with mediastinal vascular anomalies.
They all had history of recurrent LRTI (>3/y) treated with antibiotics but were evaluated while in stable condition, at least four months after the last infection. We excluded children presenting other congenital anomalies or malformations, swallowing disorders, primary ciliary dyskinesia, cystic fibrosis and immunodeficiencies.