Tracheobronchial rupture due to blunt chest trauma is an uncommon injury and the clinical presentations are variable. Recently, the incidence of tracheobronchial injuries has increased with the increase in traffic accidents and mechanization.The early diagnosis and primary repair of tracheobronchial rupture not only restores normal lung function, but also avoids the difficulties and complications associated with delayed diagnosis and repair.We report our clinical experience in anesthetic management of a patient with complete tracheal transection suffering from progressive dyspnea, subcutaneous emphysema in the neck and anterior chest wall, and bilateral tension pneumothorax.The literature regarding accidental tracheal injuries will be reviewed.
Accidents, Traffic ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Neck ; Rupture ; Stress, Psychological ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax