ISSN 2756-3324
African Journal of Medicine and Surgery ISSN 3156-8734 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-003, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Case Report
Managing a major traumatic bronchopleural fistula in a resource scarce community
Shahla Haleem1*, Maulana Mohd. Ansari2, Mehmood-uz-Zafar2, Farrukh Ansari2, Abu Nadeem2 and Yasir Ahmad Khan2
1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine J. N. Medical College, A. M. U., Aligarh 202002, U.P., India.
2Department of Anaesthesia, Faculty of Medicine J. N. Medical College, A. M. U., Aligarh 202002, U.P., India.
Accepted 07 October, 2019
Abstract
A case of penetrating chest trauma owing to bull horn goring injury was managed surgically. Postoperative respiratory distress and severe hypoxia was managed initially by conventional modes of ventilatory assistance. We were unable to correct non resolving hypoxaemia through usual course of tracheal intubation and positive pressure ventilation. Large amount of persistent air leak at the intercostal chest tube drainage site arose the suspicion of associated severe traumatic bronchopleural fistula and led to try out alternative methods of respiratory support. An early tracheostomy was planned due to lack of facility for high frequency jet ventilation, which provided two-pronged benefits of a lowered airway resistance to breathing and avoided the need for positive pressure breaths.
Key words: Chest trauma, bull horn goring injury, hypoxaemia, traumatic bronchopleural fistula.