HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kelly, J. P. Articles by Lindsey, E. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kelly, J. P. Articles by Lindsey, E. S.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 40, 551-555, Copyright © 1985 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

ARTICLES

Management of airway trauma. I: Tracheobronchial injuries

JP Kelly, WR Webb, PV Moulder, C Everson, BH Burch and ES Lindsey

One hundred six consecutive patients with injuries to the tracheobronchial tree who were admitted to the emergency room of the Tulane Medical Center Hospital or the Charity Hospital of Louisiana at New Orleans over a period of almost 20 years were analyzed retrospectively. Penetrating trauma of the neck or chest was reported in 100 of the patients, and only 6 had blunt trauma to the neck or thorax as the cause of injury. There were 18 deaths among the 106 patients (16.98%), including 11 (13.75%) of 80 with injuries of the cervical trachea. Seven (53.8%) of 13 with principal injuries of the thoracic trachea died; all 13 patients with major bronchial injuries survived. On admission to the emergency room, all patients had signs of airway compromise such as tachypnea, dyspnea, cyanosis, subcutaneous emphysema, or an abnormal respiratory pattern. Severe airway compromise was evident in 46 patients; 24 (23%) were treated with oral or nasal intubation, 19 (18%) with emergency tracheostomy, and 3 (2%) with intubation of a tracheal injury. Hemoptysis was an unreliable signal of serious injury, being present in only 28 of the patients. Patients who had major vascular injuries combined with trachea involvement were generally not salvageable. In regard to morbidity and mortality, the most common preventable errors were delay in diagnosis and treatment of tracheobronchial injuries, missed esophageal injuries, massive aspiration of blood, and abdominal vascular injuries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Beiderlinden, M. Adamzik, and J. Peters Conservative Treatment of Tracheal Injuries Anesth. Analg., January 1, 2005; 100(1): 210 - 214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Karmy-Jones, R. DuBose, and S. King Traumatic rupture of the innominate artery Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., May 1, 2003; 23(5): 782 - 787. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Kanne, E. J. Stern, and T. H. Pohlman Tracheoesophageal Fistula from a Gunshot Wound to the Neck Am. J. Roentgenol., January 1, 2003; 180(1): 212 - 212. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Mussi, M. C. Ambrogi, A. Ribechini, M. Lucchi, F. Menoni, and C. A. Angeletti Acute major airway injuries: clinical features and management Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., July 1, 2001; 20(1): 46 - 52. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]