Delayed Repair of Completely Transected Left Main Bronchus-A report of one case-

좌측 주기관지 외상성 단절의 지연복원 -1례 보고-

A complete transection of left main bronchus was repaired by end to end anastomosis 5 months after the chest trauma in the Yeungnam University Hospital. The patient was a 36 years old male who had been injured bluntly by a heavy package on the left chest. The initial symptoms and signs were dyspnea, chest pain and subcutaneous emphysema on the left neck, but on admission at our hospital his chief complaint was only mild left chest discomfort. The preoperative chest X-ray findings 5 months after the trauma revealed total collapse of the left lung, deviation of trachea to the left, elevation of left diaphragm, abrupt discontinuation in the course of an air-filled left main bronchus and bronchoscopy showed that the left main bronchus was completely occluded, without any signs of inflammation, approximately 4 cm from the carina. The operation was performed through standard posterolateral thoracotomy incision at the fifth intercostal space. There was not any suppuration within the transected lung but plenty of white mucus which was removed by forceful suction. The transected bronchial edges were debrided and anastomosed primarily by end to end with interrupted nonabsorbable sutures. The suture line was reinforced with a pleural flap. The postoperative course was uneventful and pulmonary function following operation improved progressively and proved the delayed repair to have a reasonable decision.