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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
14:39
Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
[Bronchial stenosis secondary to severe thoracic contusion. Comment on 2 cases]
A Villarreal1, J Martínez, A Portales-Castanedo
1Hospital de Especialidades # 71 IMSS, Torreón, Coah.
Gaceta Medica De Mexico
|November 18, 2000
Summary
Blunt thoracic trauma can cause bronchial rupture, leading to lung atelectasis. Surgical repair via bronchoplasty successfully restored airway patency and prevented further lung issues in two patients.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pulmonology
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Complete bronchial stenosis of the mainstem bronchus is a rare but serious complication of thoracic blunt trauma.
- Initial management with thoracostomy tube drainage may not resolve airway obstruction.
- Delayed diagnosis can lead to complete lung atelectasis and necessitate further intervention.
Observation:
- Two patients with hemothorax secondary to blunt thoracic trauma developed complete mainstem bronchial stenosis.
- Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed complete bronchial occlusion in both cases.
- One patient underwent lung decortication prior to definitive airway management.
Findings:
- Bronchoplasty with sleeve resection of the stenotic bronchial segment was performed in both patients.
- Airway patency was restored using end-to-end suture with Vycryl 0000.
- Both patients remained free of bronchopulmonary pathology at 4-year follow-up.
Implications:
- Bronchial rupture should be considered in patients with blunt thoracic trauma, even with initial improvement.
- Bronchoscopic diagnosis is crucial for identifying complete bronchial obstruction.
- Surgical intervention, including bronchoplasty, offers a successful long-term solution for traumatic bronchial stenosis.
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