Prebronchoplasty ventilation maneuver: Steering the outcome in the management of bronchial injuries!

Bronchial injuries are infrequently seen following blunt chest trauma and mostly have subtle clinical presentation. Its diagnosis is challenging and may be delayed resulting in myriad complications such as secondary infection, bronchiectasis, atelectasis, collapse, and fibrosis. We discuss the anesthetic management of a case of complete right principle bronchus transection with distal lung collapse, posted for surgical repair and highlight the unique intraoperative ventilation maneuver to identify the functional lung segment. This unique yet less recognized ventilation maneuver of the collapsed lung segment was performed just before bronchoplasty. The aforesaid maneuver may act as a pointer for further surgical course and a useful diagnostic and therapeutic modality in ensuring the eventual outcome in this subset of patients.