Tuberc Respir Dis.  1999 Apr;46(4):586-590. 10.4046/trd.1999.46.4.586.

One Case of Tracheal Rupture after Blunt Chest Trauma Diagnosed Early by Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy

• Park BK
• Kim DG
• Ko WK
• Ahn SH
• Yang DG
• Kim SK
• Lee WY
• Kim KD

• KMID: 2050122
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1999.46.4.586

Abstract

Tracheobronchial rupture is one of the less-common injuries associated with blunt chest trauma. The diagnosis of tracheobronchial rupture is not easy, but failure to diagnosis may lead to death or long-term disability. Early diagnosis and appropriate management can reduce the mortality and morbidity. Bronchoscopy is the diagnostic method of choice for patients with tracheobronchial rupture. We report a case of tracheal rupture after blunt chest trauma. A 40-year-old man was transferred to our hospital for dyspnea after blunt chest trauma. He was promptly diagnosed as tracheal rupture by fiberoptic bronchoscopy and chest computed tomogram. He was successfully managed by thoracotomy and primary repair.

Keyword

Tracheal rupture; Blunt chest trauma; Bronchoscopy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Bronchoscopy*
Diagnosis
Dyspnea
Early Diagnosis
Humans
Mortality
Rupture*
Thoracotomy
Thorax*