title: Conservative versus Surgical Management of Iatrogenic Tracheal Rupture.
abstract: Iatrogenic tracheal rupture (ITR) represents a life-threatening condition requiring prompt diagnosis, management, and treatment. The management of ITR is challenging, and treatment options depend on tear location, size, injury extent, and the patient's respiratory status. Although this complication has been extensively reported in published literature, the best evidence practice, for the management, requires clarification. In this review, the authors focused on the establishment of a differential diagnosis and the potential mechanism of the injury, the decision-making process, and the therapeutic approaches. It is suggested that for small lacerations or stable patients, conservative management could be considered sufficient, whereas invasive surgical therapy would be more appropriate in cases of large defects with significant air leak and patient instability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Heart Hospital, University College London Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Panagiotopoulos
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patrini
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koletsis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dougenis
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D012421:Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries*; D014140:Tracheotomy / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Iatrogenic surgical emphysema; Intubation; Pneumomediastinum; Tracheal rupture