Spontaneous tracheal rupture after severe coughing in a 7-year-old boy

Jong-Lyel Roh1, Jae-Ho Lee

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Pungnap-dong 388-1, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea. rohjl@amc.seoul.kr

Pediatrics
|June 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

This is the first reported pediatric case of spontaneous tracheal rupture in a child, occurring after severe coughing. Conservative management led to resolution without major complications.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Trauma Surgery

Background:

  • Tracheal lacerations are rare, life-threatening injuries often linked to trauma or intubation complications.
  • Spontaneous tracheal rupture is exceptionally uncommon, with no prior pediatric cases documented.

Observation:

  • A 7-year-old boy with acute tracheobronchitis experienced a spontaneous longitudinal laceration of the posterior membranous cervical trachea after violent coughing.
  • Early detection was achieved through endoscopic examination and computed tomography (CT).

Findings:

  • The tracheal rupture and associated emphysema were minor.
  • The condition resolved successfully with conservative management, avoiding major complications.

Implications:

  • This case expands the understanding of spontaneous tracheal rupture in pediatric patients.
  • Highlights the importance of early diagnosis and conservative treatment for pediatric tracheal injuries.

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