Do you have lung problems? Are you a smoker? Do you have emphysema? Have you ever wondered what could happen if the surgeon accidentally punctures the trachea during a medical procedure?
Read the information below to learn about the health implications of a tracheobronchial tear.
What is a Tracheobronchial Tear?
● A tracheobronchial tear is a rare and life-threatening injury related to blunt trauma to the distal trachea that involves a partial or complete tear, or a puncture of the tracheal or bronchial wall.
● These injuries can be caused by trauma or iatrogenic (caused during an invasive procedure).
● A tracheobronchial tear increases the risk for disease and death.
Causes
● Intubation
● Tracheostomy
● Airway intervention (Common tears may occur in the membranous sections.)
● Trauma to the distal trachea
Symptoms
● Difficulty breathing
● Subcutaneous emphysema
● Pneumomediastinum
o A pneumothorax is often found in the lower tracheal or bronchial injury.
● Rib fracture (may cause a laceration in the trachea)
● Multiple chest injuries
Treatment
● Surgical repair is the best form of treatment depending on the site of the tracheal laceration.
● A chest X-ray is the initial diagnostic procedure; however, a chest CT is preferred if a tracheobronchial tear is suspected
● The definitive diagnostic procedure is a bronchoscopy or surgical exploration to assess the injured site and depth.
References
Di Muzio, B. (2020). Tracheobronchial Injury. https://radiopaedia.org/articles/tracheobronchial-injury
Grewal, H. S., Dangayach, N. S., Ahmad, U., Ghosh, S., Gildea, T., & Mehta, A. C. (2019). Treatment of Tracheobronchial Injuries: A Contemporary Review. Chest, 155(3), 595–604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2018.07.018
Kosaka, S. (2015). Kyobu geka. The Japanese journal of thoracic surgery, 68(8), 660–664. Smith, K.M. (2020). [Photo]. Colored model of tracheobronchial tree front view and back view isolated on black. https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/colored-model-tracheobronchial-tree-front-view-128692940
Teach Me Anatomy. (2020). The Tracheobronchial Tree. https://teachmeanatomy.info/thorax/organs/tracheobronchial-tree/