Pleural, Lung and Tracheal Injuries

Traumas are the leading cause of death in the first four decades of life: taking into account all age groups, only neoplasms and atherosclerotic disease exceed traumas as the prime cause of death. Many patients die on arrival at the hospital, but many of them can be saved by early diagnosis and immediate and simple medical-surgical treatment. Frequently, in case of pleural and lung injuries, procedures like thoracentesis and chest drain are enough on their own to save the lives of many thoracic trauma patients. On the other hand, tracheobronchial injuries are rare conditions often not recognized at the time of trauma and frequently represent a life-threatening event. Small lesions may be treated conservatively. In case of major injuries (larger than 2 cm), surgical repair is indicated. Extracorporeal life support has emerged as an important adjunct in the context of traumatic airway injuries both in the conservative and in the operative management.