Tracheal tear in blunt chest injury in Emergency Department: Uncommon challenges.

Abstract

Traumatic tracheal tears are rare and usually occur due to blunt traumatic chest injury. It is underreported and may lead to serious outcomes and life-threatening events. Tracheal tears in blunt chest injury are usually associated with other organ injuries, such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, cardiac contusion, large vascular injury and pulmonary contusion. Thus, the association with other injuries makes it difficult to diagnose. In this case report, we describe the challenges in identifying tracheal injuries and managing ventilation in patients with pulmonary contusions resulting from blunt chest trauma in the Emergency Department.