[Traumatic tracheobronchial rupture: importance of early respiratory resuscitation and bronchoscopy]

Traumatic tracheobronchial rupture is a rare and serious complication of blunt chest trauma. Authors report the case of a 9 years old girl who was hit by a car. She presented to the admission, a respiratory distress with subcutaneous emphysema, hemoptysis, bilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. Apparently persistent pneumothorax in spite of clinic improvement after oxygenoterapy and pleural drainage, had made consider tracheobronchial rupture. The bronchoscopy achieved in emergency, had shown a low lesion of the trachea and a desinsertion of the left main bronchus. A right thoracotomy had permitted to repair the lesions. Post-operative outcome was good and authors insist in interest of early management.