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Table 5 Criteria raising suspicion of major tracheobronchial injury

From: Urgent surgical repair is pivotal in the management of major airway injury due to blunt trauma

A. Criteria in the early presentation or during conservative treatment

 History

Severe chest trauma especially to the upper part, neck trauma

 Symptoms

Severe dyspnea, voice change

 Signs

Progressive surgical emphysema, cyanosis, shock

 X-ray

Mediastinal emphysema, fallen lung

 CT findings

Endotracheal cuff herniation, tracheal wall discontinuity, bronchus discontinuity, displacement of the ETT, overdistension of the endotracheal cuff

 After ICT

Massive air leakage with the failure of lung re-expansion

B. Criteria in late presentation

 History of severe chest trauma with continuing dyspnea, recurrent chest infection, lung consolidation or collapse