Traumatic Lacerations of the Right Middle Lobar Bronchus-A Case Report

Abstract

Tracheobronchial injury is a rare, but serious complication of blunt thoracic trauma. The injury is always near the carina and the main bronchus, but is seldom in the right middle lobar bronchus. Surgical intervention of a deficiency is still the major treatment. Herein, we described the case of a healthy 20-year-old woman with 2 traumatic lacerations of the right middle lobar bronchus (RMLB). She suffered blunt thoracic trauma in a traffic accident and clinically presented as chest pain and respiratory distress. The chest radiograph disclosed cervical and thoracic subcutaneous emphysema, pneumopericardium, rib fractures and left lung contusions and thoracic drainage in the right lung. The fiberoptic bronchoscopy found 2 longitudinal lacerations, 2cm and 1cm, respectively, on the posterior wall of the RMLB. The patient did not undergo surgical repair because the lesions were minor, and the clinical symptoms did not deteriorate. The lacerations healed well after 7 days of conservative treatment. She was discharged the next day.