Abstract
A 38-year-old man was brought to the emergency room after an automobile accident. He was markedly dyspneic with extensive subcutaneous emphysema involving the chest wall and neck. A chest roentgenogram demonstrated on enlarged mediastinal shadow, deep cervical emphysema and subcutaneous emphysema. Bronchoscopic finding showed disruption of the trachea, immediately above the carina. Emergency operation was carried out. In the superior mediastunum, hematoma was sen, the mediastinal pleura was opened at the membranous portion, immediately above the carina. The tear was closed by interrupted suture with 4-0 PDS. The postoperative course was satisfactory. In cases of blunt chest trauma, bronchoscopy is the most reliable means of establishing the site, nature, and extent of the tracheobronchial disruption.
