Tracheal agenesis (also known as tracheal atresia) is a rare birth defect with a prevalence of less than 1 in 50,000 in which the trachea fails to develop, resulting in an impaired communication between the larynx and the alveoli of the lungs. Although the defect is normally fatal, occasional cases have been reported of long-term survival following surgical intervention. The disease has been more frequently observed in males than in females, at a ratio of 2:1.