Diagnosis of complete mainstem bronchus avulsion by 3-dimensional spiral CT scan of the chest

Minerva Chir. 2003 Aug;58(4):587-9.

Abstract

Tracheobronchial injury (TBI) after blunt trauma of the chest is a rare life-threatening entity that can be successfully managed by surgery if there is an early diagnosis. A 18-year-old man was injured in a motocycle accident. Three consecutive flexible bronchoscopies risulted negative for tracheo-bronchial lesions. Then, the patient was submitted to a spiral CT-scan of the chest with 3-dimensional reconstruction of the tracheobronchial tree that showed a rupture of the right main bronchus from the trachea. The lesion was successfully treated by surgery. Bronchoscopic findings in TBI may be unclear also for an experienced thoracic surgeon.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Acromioclavicular Joint
  • Adolescent
  • Anastomosis, Surgical
  • Bronchi / injuries*
  • Bronchi / surgery
  • Bronchography / methods*
  • Humans
  • Joint Dislocations / etiology
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Injury
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Emphysema / etiology
  • Motorcycles
  • Pneumothorax / diagnostic imaging
  • Pneumothorax / etiology
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema / etiology
  • Tomography, Spiral Computed*