Paediatric Pulmonology and Allergology

2007 April, Vol. X, No. 1 (3455-3459)

TRACHEAL RUPTURE IN CHILDREN: 5 CLINICAL CASES

Stanislovas Maknavičius¹, Kęstutis Trainavičius¹, Egidijus Jatkauskas¹, Arūnas Valiulis²

¹ Vilnius University Children’s Hospital, Centre of Paediatric Surgery

² Vilnius University Clinic of Children’s Diseases, Vilnius, Lithuania

We have analyzed the data of five patients treated in the period of 1990–2006. Clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, operative findings and current condition of the tracheal rupture were reported following blunt chest or cervical trauma. Age of the patients: 2 children 5 years, one boy 6 years, one child 8 years and one patient 17 years old. The diagnosis was based on the following symptoms: all patients had cervical and thoracic subcutaneous emphysema, signs of pneumomediastinum on X–ray examination and proven by tracheoscopy in 2 cases. 3 patients were operated on immediately. Tracheal damages were sutured. In other 2 cases patients had not progressive clinical signs and were treated conservatively. All 5 patients survived and recovered. In cases of deterioration of the clinical symptoms and large tracheal injury, proven by tracheobronchoscopy, patient should be urgently operated.

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