title: Major airways trauma, management and long term results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The number of patients with traumatic and iatrogenic tracheobronchial injuries is increasing. Early diagnosis, prompt establishment of a secure airway, and appropriate management could prevent sequelae and lead to a good outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between "1994-2007", 35 patients with major airways trauma were managed. This descriptive and retrospective study evaluates clinical findings, diagnostic approaches, initial managements, definitive surgical or nonsurgical treatments and follow-up results. SPSS was used for descriptive outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 27 males (77%) and 8 females, with a mean age of 28.2. There were 16 blunt, 11 penetrating and 8 iatrogenic traumas, at the level of the larynx in 1, larynx and hypopharynx in 3, laryngotracheal in 12, tracheal in 13, tracheobronchial in 1, and main bronchi in 5 patients. Fourteen patients (40%) were initially managed, and 21 patients were referred to us after their initial managements at outside hospitals. There were 7 complications (20%); one resulted in mortality (2.9%). The overall final results were good in 57.1%, acceptable in 31.4% and poor in 5.7% of patients, (mean follow-up time, 58.2 months). The respiratory status and the phonation looked better in the initially managed than the delayed managed group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend that, patients only become respiratory stable with minimum intervention and then be referred to centers with sufficient experience in airway surgery.
authors: Tracheal Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis & Lung Diseases, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Roya
authors: R
authors: Farzanegan
authors: Pouya
authors: P
authors: Alijanipour
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Akbarshahi
authors: Azizollah
authors: A
authors: Abbasidezfouli
authors: Saviz
authors: S
authors: Pejhan
authors: Aboulghasem
authors: A
authors: Daneshvar
authors: Mohammad Behgam
authors: MB
authors: Shadmehr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001980:Bronchi / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002648:Child; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014139:Tracheostomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult