Citation

Alassal MA, Ibrahim BM, Elsadeck N. Asian Cardiovasc. Thorac Ann. 2014; 22(7): 816-823.

Affiliation

Prince Salman Heart Center, King Fahd Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Asian-Pacific Society of Cardiology, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0218492313516777

PMID

24585278

Abstract

BACKGROUND:: Tracheobronchial injuries are encountered with increasing frequency because of improvements in pre-hospital care. We reviewed our experience of these injuries to determine how to better recognize them and facilitate their correct management. METHODS:: Patients with traumatic non-iatrogenic intrathoracic tracheobronchial injuries managed in 2 tertiary centers in Saudi Arabia between 2000 and 2012, were studied. Clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, management, and outcome were reviewed. RESULTS:: 78 patients with tracheobronchial injuries were included in this study. They were divided into 2 groups according to the management strategy. Forty-seven patients who were managed conservatively, and 31 underwent surgery. Surgery allowed shorter intensive care unit and hospital stays; otherwise, the results were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS:: Early recognition and expedient appropriate management are essential in these potentially lethal injuries. Operative management can be achieved with acceptable mortality, and conservative treatment should be considered as a valuable alternative to the well-established surgical treatment.

Language: en