Transthoracic bronchial intubation in a case of main bronchus disruption.

We report on a case of blunt thoracic trauma that resulted in complete disruption of the right main bronchus. Due to massive loss of respiratory volume during thoracotomy, sufficient ventilation could not be maintained via the orotracheal tube. Transthoracic intubation of the left main bronchus via the right bronchial defect was the ultima ratio procedure that allowed reanastomosis of the disrupted right main bronchus.