title: Combined tracheal and esophageal trauma from gunshot wounds.
abstract: During a 5-year period between 1988 and 1993, nine patients with combined tracheal and esophageal injuries were treated at our institution. All injuries resulted from gunshot wounds and all were repaired. All patients survived, but complications included one tracheoesophageal fistula. Combined injuries of the trachea and esophagus should be repaired primarily, and drains do not necessarily have to be placed. The benefits of a muscle flap placed between the repairs were not confirmed in this series. Complications should be recognized early and treated aggressively to minimize damage to the airway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis 38163-2116, USA.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Weiman
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Brosnan
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Pate
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Fabian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004946:Esophagostomy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012008:Recurrence; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods; D015996:Survival Rate; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D014139:Tracheostomy; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery*