[A case of bronchial rupture and pulmonary laceration caused by blunt chest trauma]

A 37-year-old female was crushed by a traffic accident. She was in severe respiratory distress. A chest X-ray revealed right pneumothorax and multiple rib fractures. Shortly after the initiation of the positive pressure ventilation, severe subcutaneous emphysema developed and she became shock. The bronchoscopy showed the rupture of the right main bronchus which was repaired through a right posterolateral thoracotomy using interrupted monofilament PPP sutures. Pulmonary lacerations were also repaired by the same sutures. Postoperative bronchoscopic examination showed good healing without any stricture. It cannot be overemphasized that accurate diagnosis and urgent surgical management is mandatory in patients with bronchial rupture.