Diagnostic Methods of Traumatic Tracheobronchial Injury.
- Author:
Shin ah SON
1
;
Sukki CHO
;
Young Woo DO
;
Hongkyu LEE
;
Eung Bae LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Korea. skcho@knu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Tracheal injury;
Trauma;
Bronchial injury
- MeSH:
Accidents, Traffic;
Bronchoscopy;
Chest Tubes;
Contusions;
Dyspnea;
Early Diagnosis;
Humans;
Lung;
Mediastinal Emphysema;
Pneumothorax;
Pulmonary Atelectasis;
Rib Fractures;
Subcutaneous Emphysema;
Thorax;
Trachea;
Vocal Cord Paralysis
- From:The Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
2010;43(6):675-680
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the distinguishing clinicoradiologic findings of traumatic tracheobronchial injury. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 2003 and December 2009, six patients who underwent surgical repair for traumatic tracheobronchial injury due to blunt trauma were included in this study. We evaluated the mechanism of the injury, the coexisting injuries, the time until the making diagnosis and treatment, the diagnostic methods, the anatomic location of the injury and the surgical outcomes. RESULT: The mechanisms of injury were traffic accident and crushing forces. The frequent symptoms were subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea and pain, and the common radiologic findings were pneumothorax, mediastinal emphysema, rib fracture and lung contusion. Only 2 patients were diagnosed by chest CT and the others were not diagnosed preoperatively. The location of injury was the trachea in 2 patients and the bronchial tree in 4 patients. There was no postoperative mortality or anastomotic leak; however, vocal cord palsy occurred in one patient. The most distinguishing sign was persistent lung collapse even though the chest tube was connected with negative pressure. CONCLUSION: Although it was not easy to diagnose traumatic tracheobronchial injury without a clinical suspicion, the distinguishing clinical symptoms and CT findings could help to make an early diagnosis without performing bronchoscopy.
