Abstract
Respiratory function and the state of repair of the respiratory tract were followed for 1 to 11 years (mean 5 years) after surgery in 10 patients with tracheobronchial injuries. In four patients, who had been operated on in the acute phase, the results were satisfactory. In six patients treated 4 to 9 months after injury, pneumothorax and subcutaneous or mediastinal emphysema were noted immediately after injury, suggesting that an early diagnosis might have been possible. In one patient presenting with atelectasis of the middle and lower lobes and in two patients with a history of pneumonia, the pulmonary scintigram showed low ventilation distribution in the affected lung (affected side : normal side = 43 : 57, 41 : 59, 45 : 55). One patient, treated with Barclay's operation for carinal stenosis, developed obstructive ventilatory disorder due to tracheobronchial malacia at the anastomotic region.
Our results suggest that early diagnosis and surgical treatment are important to improve the longterm results of traumatic airway injuries.
