Association of Surgeons of East Africa and College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa
Abstract
Background: The increased incidence of tracheal injuries encountered
during war like situation in the valley of Kashmir has prompted us to
conduct this study. Method: The study was conducted retrospectively on
29 patients managed in the past in our hospital and 7 patients were
managed after the study was undertaken. After recording the
observations made in managing the patients of penetrating tracheal
trauma, the results were analyzed and entered in the individual
patients’ protocol. Results: There was a predominance of males
with a male to female sex ratio of 5: 1. The majority (69% had fire
arms trauma. Hissing wounds, respiratory distress and haemoptysis were
the commonest presenting complaints. There were 4 deaths. Complications
were observed in 16 (50%) of the 36 patients who survived and included
hoarseness in 6 and tracheal stenosis in 5 cases. Conclusion: It was
concluded that earliest possible diagnosis followed by securing of
airway and prompt repair is the mainstay of management of penetrating
tracheal injuries