TRACHEAL INJURY

Course overview

TRACHEAL INJURY IS AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE SEEN PRIMARILY AFTER HEALTHCARE PROCEDURES, BLUNT AND PENETRATING TRAUMA, AND CAUSTIC INHALATIONS. DAMAGE TO THE TRACHEA CARRIES WITH IT A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WITH IMPROVED PROGNOSIS LINKED TO EARLY RECOGNITION, AND PROPER MANAGEMENT AND INVERSELY RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF CONCOMITANT INJURIES. OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT INCLUDE VARIATIONS ON MINIMALLY INVASIVE BRONCHOSCOPIC PROCEDURES TO OPEN SURGERY. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF TRACHEAL INJURY AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS INJURY.