Reconstructive Surgery for Tracheobronchial Injuries Including Complete Disruption of the Right Main Bronchus

Summary

Important features of diagnostic and operative management and the postoperative course of tracheobronchial injuries as well as pathological findings at the anastomosis are discussed in a review of our 11 cases from the last 12 years.

Diagnosis was established clinically, localization of the rupture was carried out by rigid or fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Tracheobronchial continuity was reestablished by end-to-end anastomosis of the ruptured bronchi, by direct suture of any tracheobronchial tears, or by patching inveterated lesions. Two cases of rupture of the right main bronchus are presented separately, considering clinical, diagnostic, operative and histopathologic criteria.

Key words

Tracheobronchial injury - End-to-end anastomosis of the right main bronchus - Emergency fiberoptic bronchoscopy - Histopathology of bronchial anastomosis