Tracheal agenesis: a lethal malformation

Tracheal agenesis is a rare and lethal congenital defect consisting of complete or partial absence of the trachea below the larynx. This report describes a newborn infant with type II tracheal agenesis and a broncho-oesophageal fistula. Presence of the fistula made prenatal diagnosis difficult and allowed the infant to be ventilated via oesophageal intubation with detection of exhaled carbon dioxide.