Tips and tricks in the operative management of esophageal, trachea, and bronchial injuries: What you need to know.

Abstract

Tracheal injuries can be immediately life-threatening. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the operating room can make the diagnosis and satisfy the principle of achieving an airway distal to the injury. Repair is performed with a single layer of absorbable suture. Esophageal injuries are diagnosed with imaging, endoscopy, or intraoperatively. In the chest, esophageal injuries are best repaired through posterolateral incisions. Repairs are performed in one or two layers, and drains are routinely used. For a damage-control approach to esophageal injuries, wide drainage can be considered. For both tracheal and esophageal injuries, the operative approach is based on the anatomic location of the injury and muscle flap buttressing of the repairs is routinely employed.