• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.197-201
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• 2013

Background: Most traumatic tracheobronchial injuries are fatal and result in death. Some milder cases are not life threatening and are often missed at the initial presentation. Tracheobronchial rupture is difficult to diagnose in the evaluation of severe multiple trauma patients. We reviewed the traumatic tracheobronchial injuries at Konyang University and Eulji University Hospital and analyzed the clinical results. Materials and Methods: From January 2001 to December 2011, 23 consecutive cases of traumatic tracheobronchial injury after blunt trauma were reviewed retrospectively. We divided them into two groups by the time to diagnosis: group I was defined as the patients who were diagnosed within 48 hours from trauma and group II was the patients who diagnosed 48 hours after trauma. We compared the clinical parameters of the two groups. Results: There was no difference in the age and gender between the two groups. The most common cause was traffic accidents (56.5%). The Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 19.6 in group I and 27.5 in group II (p=0.06), respectively. Although the difference in the ISS was not statistically significant, group II tended toward more severe injuries than group I. Computed tomography was performed in 22 cases and tracheobronchial injury was diagnosed in 5 in group I and 6 in group II, respectively (p=0.09). Eighteen patients underwent surgical treatment and all four cases of lung resection were exclusively performed in group II (p=0.03). There were two mortality cases, and the cause of death was shock and sepsis. Conclusion: We believe that close clinical observation with suspicion and rigorous bronchoscopic evaluation are necessary to perform diagnosis earlier and preserve lung parenchyma in tracheobronchial injuries from blunt trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.208-212
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• 1996

From 1990 to 1994, 10 patients were treated for tracheobronchial injury due to blunt trauma. 7 injuries resulted from motor vehicle accident. Common presenting signs included subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea and hemoptysis. The most common radiologic findings were pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and hemothorax. The fiberoptic bronchoscopy was highly accurate method for the diagnosis. The operation method is simple closure except one patien underwent right pneumonectomy. One patient died because of respiratory distress and 9 patients recovered uneventfully and returned to normal activity. Early recognition and proper treatment of tracheobronchial injury is important.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.76 no.5
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• pp.237-239
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• 2014

The early pulmonary consequences of inhalation injury are well documented; however, little is known about delayed pulmonary complications following thermal inhalation injury. Although thermal injury below the vocal cords is rare because of effective heat dissipation in the upper airway, inflammatory endobronchial polyps have previously been reported as a delayed complication associated with inhalation injury. We report an extraordinary case of tracheobronchial polyps in patients with smoke inhalation injury. This report shows the delayed development and natural course of tracheobronchial polyps following thermal injury.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Purpose: Tracheobronchial injuries caused by trauma are rare, but can be life threatening. The objective of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome for patients with tracheobronchial injuries and to determine the difference, if any, between the outcomes for patients with penetrating trauma and those for patients with blunt trauma. Methods: From January 2010 to June 2015, 40 patients underwent tracheobronchial repair surgery due to trauma. We excluded 14 patients with iatrogenic injuries, and divided the remaining 26 into two groups. Results: In the blunt trauma group, injury mechanisms were motor vehicle accident (9 cases), free falls (3 cases), flat falls (1 case) and mechanical injury (1 case). In the penetrating trauma group, injury mechanisms were stab wounds (10 cases), a gunshot wound (1 case) and a stab wound caused by metal pieces (1 case). The mean RTS (Revised Trauma Score) was $6.89{\pm}1.59$ (range: 2.40-7.84) and the mean ISS (Injury Severity Score) was $24.36{\pm}7.16$ (range: 11-34) in the blunt group; the mean RTS was $7.56{\pm}0.41$ (range: 7.11-7.84), and the mean ISS was $13{\pm}5.26$ (range: 9-25) in the penetrating trauma group. In the blunt trauma group, 9 primary repairs, 1 resection with end-end anastomosis, 2 lobectomies, 1 sleeve bronchial resection and 1 pneumonectomy were performed. In the penetrating trauma group, 10 primary repairs and 2 resections with end-end anastomosis were performed. Complications associated with surgery were found in one patient in the blunt trauma group, and one patient in the penetrating trauma group. No mortalities occurred in either groups. Conclusion: Surgical management of a traumatic tracheobronchial injury is a safe procedure for both patients with a penetrating trauma and those with a blunt trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.403-406
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• 2017

Tracheobronchial rupture due to blunt chest trauma is a rare but life-threatening injury in the pediatric population. Computed tomography (CT) is not always reliable in the management of these patients. An additional concern is that ventilation may be disrupted during surgical repair of these injuries. This report presents the case of a 4 -year-old boy with an injury to the lower trachea and carina due to blunt force trauma that was missed on the initial CT scan. During surgery, he was administered venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Although ECMO is not generally used in children, this case demonstrated that the short-term use of ECMO during pediatric surgery is safe and can prevent intraoperative desaturation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.154-157
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• 2021

Tracheobronchial injury (TBI) is an uncommon but potentially fatal event. Iatrogenic lesions during bronchoscopy, endotracheal intubation, or thoracic surgery are considered the most common causes of TBI. When TBI is detected during surgery, concomitant surgical treatment is recommended. Herein we present a case of successful robotic primary repair of iatrogenic tracheal and left bronchial branch tears during a robot-assisted hybrid 3-stage esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. A robotic approach can facilitate the repair of this injury while reducing both the potential risk of conversion to open surgery and the associated increased risk of postoperative respiratory complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.675-680
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• 2010

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the distinguishing clinicoradiologic findings of traumatic tracheobronchial injury. Material and Method: Between January 2003 and December 2009, six patients who underwent surgical repair for traumatic tracheobronchial injury due to blunt trauma were included in this study. We evaluated the mechanism of the injury, the coexisting injuries, the time until the making diagnosis and treatment, the diagnostic methods, the anatomic location of the injury and the surgical outcomes. Result: The mechanisms of injury were traffic accident and crushing forces. The frequent symptoms were subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea and pain, and the common radiologic findings were pneumothorax, mediastinal emphysema, rib fracture and lung contusion. Only 2 patients were diagnosed by chest CT and the others were not diagnosed preoperatively. The location of injury was the trachea in 2 patients and the bronchial tree in 4 patients. There was no postoperative mortality or anastomotic leak; however, vocal cord palsy occurred in one patient. The most distinguishing sign was persistent lung collapse even though the chest tube was connected with negative pressure. Conclusion: Although it was not easy to diagnose traumatic tracheobronchial injury without a clinical suspicion, the distinguishing clinical symptoms and CT findings could help to make an early diagnosis without performing bronchoscopy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.303-305
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• 1991

The tracheobronchial rupture from blunt trauma is an uncommon injury with a variety of clinical presentations. Most of traumatic tracheobronchial tears occur within 2.5cm of the tracheal carina; lobar or segmental bronchi are rarely affected. Recently we experienced one case of traumatic rupture of right middle lobar bronchus in a patient who had fallen from a bicycle. Bronchoscopy showed linear disruption of the right middle lobe bronchus at its bifurcation site. Emergency right middle lobectomy was performed. The patient was recovered without any sequelae.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 1989

The tracheobronchial histopathologic findings in 7 healthy cats used with high frequency oscillation ventilation (HFOV) were compared with those in 6 cats used with conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV). 4-point, 9-variable scoring system was used to evaluate the injury in the trachea, right & left main bronchi and parenchyme. The following results were obtained ; 1) The tracheobronchial tree received HFOV had no significant damage compared with CMV (P>0.05). 2) Intraepithelial mucus loss and emphysema were s lightly more prominent in CMV groups. As above results ; the tracheobronchial histopathologic difference was not prominent between CMV and HFOV groups received with relatively short period, however, the cellular function and barotrauma may be more prominent in CMV groups. From now on, as causes of tracheobronchial injury in HFV, interaction between humidification and mechanical trauma considers further study.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.588-593
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• 1990

The rupture of tracheobronchial tree caused by non penetrating blunt trauma is being increased in incidence though it is still rarely occurred on now Because this type of injury is uncommon, a high index of suspicion should be maintained in all crush injuries involving the chest. Early diagnosis and primary repair not only restore normal lung function but also avoid the difficulties and complications associated with delayed diagnosis and repair. We experienced a case of tracheobronchial rupture caused by non penetrating blunt chest trauma without rib fracture. The patient was a 16 year old male who was a high school student. He was compressed on anterior chest by hand ball goal post being failed down on the morning of admission day. After this accident, he was suffered from progressively developing dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema on face, neck and anterior chest. The diagnosis, tracheal rupture, was made by chest CT and bronchoscopy. After right thoracotomy, the ruptured site was directly closed by using interrupted suture. Post-operative course was uneventful. Thus we report this case of traumatic tracheal rupture with review of literature.