Tracheobronchial injury after blunt thoracic trauma—lessons to learn in diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative care: a case series

TBI management requires a multidisciplinary and experienced team. One must be aware of the classic clinical presentation: dyspnea, soft tissue emphysema, and hemoptysis. Cases in which a history of trauma is associated with dyspnea and/or chest wall/mediastinal emphysema require early bronchoscopy as the diagnostic gold standard. The use of "Minimum-intensity projection" (MinIP) reconstructions can help identify TBI in computed tomography scans. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy is to be considered in selected cases. Surgical repair must focus on preventing parenchymal loss by reconstructing the bronchial defect while avoiding anatomical resection. Postoperative care should consider the possibility of bronchial denervation and its potential complications.