Indian journal of critical care medicine : peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine
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Indian J Crit Care Med · Jun 2017
Case ReportsBlunt Trauma Neck with Complete Tracheal Transection - A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge to the Trauma Team.
Survival following trachea-esophageal transection is uncommon. Establishing a secure airway has the highest priority in trauma management. Airway management is a unique and a defining element to the specialty of emergency medicine. ⋯ Here, we report a case of blunt trauma following high-velocity road traffic accident, presenting in the peri-arrest state, in whom we noticed "failed airway" which turned out to be due to complete tracheal transection. In our patient, although we had secured the airway immediately, he had already sustained hypoxic brain damage. This scenario emphasizes the importance of prehospital care in developing countries.