Two cases of right upper bronchial disruption due to blunt thoracic trauma

• Published in: Nihon Kokyuki Geka Gakkai zasshi (Kyoto, 1992) Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 676 - 681
• Main Authors: Iwata, Takekazu, Shiba, Mitsutoshi, Kohno, Hiromasa, Yasuda, Mio, Satoh, Koichiro, Kitamura, Shinya, Yamaji, Haruko, Fujisawa, Takehiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Japanese Association for Chest Surgery 2004
• Subjects: blunt thoracic trauma; bronchial disruption; pulmonary contusion; right upper bronchus; tracheobronchial injury
• ISSN: 0919-0945; 1881-4158
• DOI: 10.2995/jacsurg.18.5_676

Tracheobronchial rupture by blunt thoracic trauma is relatively rare and especially right upper bronchial disruption is very rare. Here we report two cases of bronchial disruption following blunt chest trauma. The first case was a 20-year-old male. A car jacked up for repair, suddenly dropped and compressed his chest. Chest X-ray demonstrated right pneumothorax. Bronchoscopic examination revealed complete disruption of the right upper lobar bronchus. He had no critical injuries to other organs. The contusion of the right upper lobe found in the thoracotomy was so severe that we abandoned the preservation of the injured area and performed right upper lobectomy. He is doing well without any symptoms 65 months after surgery. The second case was also a 20-year-old male. A large iron box weighing approximately 10 tons compressed his chest. When admitted to our hospital, traumatic pneumothorax was apparent. Chest tube drainage was performed, but it was not effective because of massive air leakage. Bronchoscopic examination showed complete disruption of the right upper lobar bronchus. He had no critical injuries in other organs, either. As the contusion of the right lung was not so severe in the operation, we performed end to end anastomosis of the right upper lobar bronchus and main bronchus. He was doing well without any complications 6 months postoperatively.