Management of traumatic tracheobronchial separation in a teenager using a fabricated extra-long endotracheal tube

• Published in: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology Vol. 73; no. 8; pp. 1163 - 1167
• Main Authors: Propst, Evan J, Lin, Erica P, Istaphanous, George K, Boesch, R. Paul, Ryckman, Frederick C, Cotton, Robin T, Rutter, Michael J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.08.2009
• Subjects: Accidental Falls; Adolescent; Bronchi - injuries; Child/preschool; Humans; Intubation; Intubation, Intratracheal - instrumentation; Male; Otolaryngology; Pediatrics; Single-lung ventilation; Thoracotomy; Trachea - injuries; Trachea/surgery; Tracheobronchial injury; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - complications; Trachea/injuries; Child/preschool; Single-lung ventilation; Tracheobronchial injury; Intubation; Trachea/surgery
• ISSN: 0165-5876; 1872-8464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2009.04.012

Abstract Tracheobronchial separation (TBS) due to blunt chest trauma in children is extremely rare. We report the case of a 14-year-old boy who fell 20 feet and developed respiratory distress, bilateral pneumothoraces, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema. Computed tomography imaging at the initial institution failed to detect tracheobronchial disruption, and the patient was managed conservatively. The patient's worsening condition prompted bronchoscopic examination which revealed complete separation of the right main bronchus from the trachea. Single-lung ventilation was instituted using a fabricated extra-long nasotracheal tube due to the patient's large size and mandibular fracture, and the airway was primarily anastamosed with an open thoracotomy approach. The clinical features of tracheobronchial separation as well as anesthetic, clinical and surgical management of this rare but life-threatening injury are described.