Abstract

VAZQUEZ-MINERO, Juan Carlos et al. Penetrating tracheal trauma. Recommendations for its management. About a case. Neumol. cir. torax [online]. 2018, vol.77, n.4, pp.286-292. ISSN 0028-3746.

Tracheal trauma affecting the cervical portion is uncommon (10% of all neck injuries), with penetrating mechanism as the most frequent and mortality of 30-80% during transfer. The proper management of the initial trauma with the assurance of the airway is only part of the problem that the patient may present: one of the major complications is tracheal stenosis. The probability of detecting this type of complications implies an adequate follow-up of these patients, to avoid their complications. We present the case of a 28-year-old man with assault by third parties with gunshot wound on the anterior face of the neck, through which a tracheal lesion was detected, which warranted the initial placement of a tracheostomy cannula. For the same site of injury, studying with satisfactory evolution and exit. The patient was referred to a third-level center with a diagnosis of traumatic tracheal injury; was evaluated by bronchoscopy and a candidate for tracheoplasty was determined by stenosis, which was carried out without complications at the second month after the initial surgery. It evolved satisfactorily and graduated seven days later, with follow-up in outpatient consultation one month later with favorable evolution. Regarding this case, we propose a follow-up protocol for patients with traumatic tracheal injury, to detect and correct one of its most serious.

Keywords : Tracheal trauma; posttraumatic stenosis.