title: Bilateral pneumothorax following a blunt trachea trauma.
abstract: A-13 year old boy had an accident with his bike with a blunt thorax trauma and presented shortly after with facial swelling. Due to respiratory insufficiency, intubation was done during the transport to the clinic. First, a chest radiograph was performed, which showed a unilateral pneumothorax. Later a CT scan revealed bilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. Bilateral chest tube insertions improved the respiratory situation. Bronchoscopy showed a tracheal lesion two cm posterior to the main carina. After good wound healing, the patient was dismissed after 21 days in good health. Conservative treatment can be recommended in selected patients with a tracheal lesion when having a stable respiratory situation. If the patient does not improve after 48 h or if the clinical condition worsens, surgical management should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Charité University Hospital Berlin, Augustenburgerplatz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Charité University Hospital Berlin, Augustenburgerplatz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Usemann
authors.affiliation: Sana Hospital Lichtenberg, Gotlinderstr. 2-20, 10365 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.affiliation: Helius Klinikum Walthöferstr., 14165 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.affiliation: Charité University Hospital Berlin, Augustenburgerplatz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rothe
authors.affiliation: Charité University Hospital Berlin, Augustenburgerplatz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rückert
authors.affiliation: Charité University Hospital Berlin, Augustenburgerplatz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neudecker
keywords: Bilateral pneumothorax; Chest trauma; Tracheal rupture