Delayed diagnosis of a complete bronchial rupture after blunt thoracic trauma

DEMİR A., Olcmen A., KARA H. V., Dincer S. I.

THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEON, vol.54, no.8, pp.560-562, 2006 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 54 Issue: 8
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Doi Number: 10.1055/s-2006-924480
  • Journal Name: THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEON
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.560-562
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Bronchial ruptures due to blunt chest traumas are rarely encountered injuries. They can be missed in the emergency room depending on the clinical findings. We present a case report of a previously healthy 32-year-old woman who received multiple rib and clavicula fractures on the right side in a traffic accident. The plain radiograms taken on the first and fifth day showed no other pathological findings than the above-mentioned fractures. Her control chest radiography, which was taken 7 weeks later, showed a totally opaque left hemithorax but no findings of pneumothorax were present. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy and virtual bronchoscopy showed a left main bronchial rupture. The patient was treated with an end-to-end anastomosis via left posterolateral thoracotomy.