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 Citation Map 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 Baumgartner, F. Articles by Robertson, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Baumgartner, F. Articles by Robertson, J. M.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 50, 569-574, Copyright © 1990 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

ARTICLES

Tracheal and main bronchial disruptions after blunt chest trauma: presentation and management

F Baumgartner, B Sheppard, C de Virgilio, B Esrig, D Harrier, RJ Nelson and JM Robertson
Department of Surgery, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance.

Tracheobronchial disruption is one of the less common injuries associated with blunt thoracic trauma. This injury can be life threatening, however, and failure to diagnose it early can lead to disastrous acute or delayed complications. Nine cases of tracheobronchial disruption in the setting of nonpenetrating thoracic trauma were seen at four Los Angeles trauma centers between 1980 and 1987. Mechanism of injury, presentation, diagnosis, and management of these patients were reviewed. Disruptions involved the trachea in 3 patients, the right bronchus in 5 patients, and the left bronchus in 2 patients. Tracheobronchial disruptions occurred in settings of high- energy impact-type injuries and were more likely to have associated injuries than they were to occur alone. Common presenting signs included subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea, sternal tenderness, and hemoptysis. Radiographic findings were most commonly pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and clavicle or rib fractures. Rigid bronchoscopy and fiberoptic bronchoscopy were both highly accurate methods for diagnosis but only in the hands of trained cardiothoracic surgeons. Delay in diagnosis increased the likelihood of postoperative complications.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Ozcelik, S. Onat, and E. S. Bayar Combined Late Diagnosed Right Main Bronchial Disruption and Chylothorax From Blunt Chest Trauma Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 2004; 78(4): e61 - e62. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Balci, N. Eren, S. Eren, and R. Ulku Surgical treatment of post-traumatic tracheobronchial injuries: 14-year experience Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., December 1, 2002; 22(6): 984 - 989. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-H. Chen, T.-J. Huang, Y.-J. Chen, H.-P. Liu, and R. W.-W. Hsu Flexion-Distraction Injury of the Upper Thoracic Spine Associated with Tracheoesophageal Perforation : A Case Report J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., June 1, 2002; 84(6): 1028 - 1031. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Wintermark and P. Schnyder The Macklin Effect : A Frequent Etiology for Pneumomediastinum in Severe Blunt Chest Trauma Chest, August 1, 2001; 120(2): 543 - 547. [Abstract] [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]

				A. Tcherveniakov, P. Tchalakov, and P. Tcherveniakov Traumatic and iatrogenic lesions of the trachea and bronchi Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., January 1, 2001; 19(1): 19 - 24. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Cassada, M. P. Munyikwa, M. P. Moniz, R. A. Dieter Jr, G. F. Schuchmann, and B. L. Enderson Acute injuries of the trachea and major bronchi: importance of early diagnosis Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2000; 69(5): 1563 - 1567. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Oto, U. Acikel, E. Silistreli, O. Karabay, E. Tuzun, U. Gurgan, H. Catalyurek, and N. Sariosmanoglu Traumatic Main Bronchial Disruption: Radiologic Evaluation and Surgical Management Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, March 1, 1999; 7(1): 68 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Porte, M. Langlois, C. H. Maquette, J. Dupont, J. M. Anselin, and A. Wurtz SUCCESSFUL ESOPHAGEAL TRACHEOBRONCHOPLASTY FOR COMBINED TRACHEAL ANDBRONCHIAL TRAUMATIC RUPTURE J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., May 1, 1998; 115(5): 1216 - 1218. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. D. Hopper, I. C. Gilchrist, J. R. Landis, A. H. Abolfathi, A. Russell Localio, R. P. Wilson, W. E. Pae Jr., A. R. Kunselman, D. W. Wieting, J. W. Griffith, et al. In Vivo Accuracy Of Two Radiographic Systems In The Detection Of Bjork-Shiley Convexo-Concave Heart Valve Outlet Strut Single Leg Separations J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., March 1, 1998; 115(3): 582 - 586. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. M. Rossbach, S. B. Johnson, M. A. Gomez, E. Y. Sako, O. L. Miller, and J. H. Calhoon Management of Major Tracheobronchial Injuries: A 28-Year Experience Ann. Thorac. Surg., January 1, 1998; 65(1): 182 - 186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. D. Crouch, L. E. Nelson, P. C. Hawley, D. A. Frank, Ccp, and T. E. Williams Jr Onlay Patch Repair of Tracheobronchial Rupture Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 1997; 64(4): 1158 - 1160. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. L. M. de Nicolas, A. P. Gamez, F. Cruz, V. Diaz-Hellin, C. Marron, J. I. Martinez, R. Galvez, and J. Toledo Long Tracheobronchial and Esophageal Rupture After Blunt Chest Trauma: Injury by Airway Bursting Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 1996; 62(1): 269 - 272. [Abstract] [Full Text]