[Tracheobronchial injuries].

BACKGROUND

Tracheobronchial injuries are among the least common sort of thoracic traumas. This injury can be life threatening. However, successful diagnosis and treatment can prevent devastating acute or delayed complications. The aim of this study was to review the authors' surgical experience in tracheobronchial injuries.

METHODS

We reviewed our records of 29 patients with tracheobronchial injuries from January 1979 to December 2000. The median age was 22.7. Twenty-seven patients were male and two were females.

RESULTS

The causes of traumas were penetrating injury in seventeen, blunt injury in eleven patients and animal bite in one. In sixteen patients cervical trachea, in nine main stem bronchus, in 3 lobar bronchus and in one patient mediastinal trachea were found to be injured. In seven of twenty-nine patients there were combined tracheal and esophageal injuries. Surgical approach was made by oblique incision, collar incisions and thoracotomy. In general we preferred primary repair. The overall mortality rate was 24%.

CONCLUSION

In our opinion, the number of complications and mortality can be diminished by early recognition of the injuries and treatment.