[Successful conservative management in two patients with a tracheobronchial rupture]

A 30-year-old woman with blunt chest trauma after falling from a horse appeared to have a haematothorax. Bronchoscopy showed a bronchial rupture of the posterior segment of the right upper lobe. As her condition was stable, a policy of expectant management was instigated. She recovered without problems. A 73-year-old woman with an ileus of the small intestine had, after several intubations, a tracheal rupture. Due to her poor condition a policy of conservative management was followed. The rupture healed in 2 months. The patient died due to her abdominal problems. Tracheo-bronchial ruptures are rare, mostly caused by blunt chest trauma or iatrogenic due to complicated intubations. Acute therapy involves the optimalization of ventilation. In certain selected cases following a policy of expectant management may be successful.