[Tracheal injury during transhiatal esophagectomy treated conservatively]

Damage of trachea or main bronchi occurs rarely during esophagectomy, but when it happens the prognosis is unfavorable. There are no unambiguous guidelines for treatment in such cases. It is considered, that the tracheal injury can be managed by primary closure. Conservative treatment of tracheal injury with the mechanical ventilation is, according to current opinions, ineffective. We report the case of tracheal injury during transhiatal esophagectomy performed due to postscald stenosis. The injury was not operated because of too large laceration of the posterior wall, difficult surgical access and the scarring of surrounding tissues. Membranous tracheal tear was filled with endotracheal tube cuff. The mechanical ventilation was applied till the time of complete recovery, when the tear was healed.