Experience of diagnosis and treatment of traumatic bronchial rupture in children in a single clinical center

Abstract

Purpose To examine the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic bronchial rupture in children at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. Methods The diagnosis and treatment of eight cases of traumatic bronchial rupture were analyzed retrospectively from January 2014 to December 2019 in our hospital. Results Diagnosis of the eight patients was clear after a chest CT with three-dimensional reconstruction techniques and fiberoptic bronchoscopy; six of the patients had a delay in diagnosis of at least 2 weeks. Among the patients, six had left bronchus rupture, and the other two had right bronchus rupture. All eight patients received surgery; seven patients received a bronchial end-to-end valgus anastomosis, and one received right middle lobe lobectomy. There were no deaths in this group, and all patients were cured and discharged. Follow-up was conducted for 3 months to 2 years; the patients who received surgery showed mild bronchostenosis within 2 weeks after the trauma, and the other six patients showed moderate bronchostenosis upon CT examination. Conclusion Being alert to bronchial rupture after trauma in children is helpful for diagnosis. Chest CT with three-dimensional reconstruction techniques and fiberoptic bronchoscopy are the most valuable diagnostic methods. The patients can show excellent results if the operation for a continuous valgus anastomosis of the posterior wall and interrupted end-to-end valgus anastomosis of the anterior wall on the ruptured side is performed in the early stage of traumatic bronchial rupture.