High-frequency ventilation in the management of tracheal trauma.

Two cases of rupture of the trachea were treated by surgical repair. Intraoperative and postoperative ventilation was managed with high-frequency ventilation. This mode of ventilation afforded good intraoperative exposure and support as well as good postoperative ventilation despite pulmonary contusion without requiring inflation of the endotracheal tube cuff against tracheal suture lines. We recommend high-frequency ventilation in the management of tracheobronchial trauma intraoperatively and postoperatively, because it allows good ventilation despite pulmonary contusion without high positive airway pressures and without the necessity for inflation of the endotracheal tube cuff against a tracheal suture line.