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 |