[Successful conservative management in two patients with a tracheobronchial rupture].
A 30-year-old woman with blunt chest trauma after falling from a horse appeared to have a haematothorax. Bronchoscopy showed a bronchial rupture of the posterior segment of the right upper lobe. As her condition was stable, a policy of expectant management was instigated. She recovered without problems. A 73-year-old woman with an ileus of the small intestine had, after several intubations, a tracheal rupture. Due to her poor condition a policy of conservative management was followed. The rupture healed in 2 months. The patient died due to her abdominal problems. Tracheo-bronchial ruptures are rare, mostly caused by blunt chest trauma or iatrogenic due to complicated intubations. Acute therapy involves the optimalization of ventilation. In certain selected cases following a policy of expectant management may be successful.
Pérez y Pérez
M
M
Afd. Longziekten, Ziekenhuis Leyenburg.
de Ruiter
G R
GR
Mannes
G P
GP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D012421:Rupture; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000628:therapy*