Diagnosis of complete mainstem bronchus avulsion by 3-dimensional spiral CT scan of the chest.
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.
Baisi
A
A
Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, IRCSS, Thoracic Surgery Unit, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. elebaisi@tin.it
Nosotti
M
M
Cioffi
U
U
De Simone
M
M
Rosso
L
L
Cappelletti
M
M
Triggiani
M
M
Santambrogio
L
L
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000173:Acromioclavicular Joint; D000293:Adolescent; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001980:Bronchi / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D001995:Bronchography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000209:etiology; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055370:Lung Injury; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000209:etiology; D009049:Motorcycles; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed