Tracheobronchial rupture in children due to chest compression

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Thoracic Trauma
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Tracheobronchial rupture is a potentially fatal condition with varied etiologies in children.
• Common causes include blunt force trauma and iatrogenic injuries, predominantly from tracheal intubation.

Observation:

• This report presents the first documented case of tracheobronchial rupture resulting from chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Findings:

• The injury occurred in a pediatric patient following CPR, highlighting an unusual iatrogenic cause of tracheobronchial damage.
• This case underscores that tracheobronchial rupture can occur even without tracheal intubation.

Implications:

• Close clinical surveillance is crucial for patients undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, irrespective of intubation status.
• This finding expands the spectrum of known iatrogenic causes for tracheobronchial injury in pediatric patients.
• Awareness of this rare complication can guide prompt diagnosis and management in similar clinical scenarios.