[Tracheobronchial injury: clinical analysis of 17 consecutive cases]

Consecutive 17 tracheobronchial injury caused by blunt chest trauma were reviewed. 14 patients were injured by traffic accidents, 2 by fall from the high, and one by accident during play in the house. 16 were male and one was female. Patient's age range from 4 to 60 years (average 25). Site of tracheobronchial injuries were scattered and there were not found risky area. Several problem to rescue tracheobronchial injuries are discussed. To maintain the ventilation in the patient of carinal injury, it is supposed that jet ventilation may be a possible method. For the infant victims, it is difficult to evaluate the injury using bronchofiberscopy. It is recommended that repair of tracheobronchial injury may be undergone as soon as the general condition becomes enough for anesthesia. On a technical aspect, stay suture should be put at the healthy site because those injuries are larger than expected before operation. For the victims with cerebral injury or shock, respirator is necessary for ventilatory management. In those cases adequate sedation and muscle relaxation should be applied.