title: Tracheal inujry due to blunt chest trauma: a rare surgical emergency.
abstract: Tracheal injury is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma. The patients usually present with signs of respiratory distress. Primary repair is the treatment of choice in case of large defects, while small tears can be managed conservatively. Immediate operation is recommended to improve deteriorating pulmonary function. The decrease in mortality and long-term morbidity depends on early diagnosis. We report a case of tracheal injury due to non-penetrating thoracic trauma which was successfully managed with surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Usman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Muhammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.forename: Saulat H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Fatimi
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shuja
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*