Multidisciplinary Assessment and Management of Tracheal Trauma: Integration of Emergency Care, Radiology, Nursing Practice, Pharmacy Services, and General Medicine
Abstract
Background: Tracheal trauma is a rare but life-threatening injury associated with high morbidity and mortality. Its management is complex due to the trachea's proximity to vital structures like the great vessels, esophagus, and recurrent laryngeal nerves, often resulting in concomitant injuries. The true incidence is likely underestimated due to high prehospital mortality and underreporting of iatrogenic cases.
Aim: This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the multidisciplinary assessment and management of tracheal trauma, emphasizing the integration of specialties including emergency medicine, radiology, nursing, pharmacy, and general surgery to optimize patient outcomes.
Methods: A detailed analysis of tracheal trauma is presented, covering anatomy, etiology (blunt, penetrating, iatrogenic, inhalational), pathophysiology, and epidemiology. The evaluation process, including clinical presentation, imaging (with CT as the preferred modality), and definitive diagnosis via bronchoscopy, is explored. Management principles are discussed through the lens of established classification systems like the Schaefer and Cardillo systems.
Results: Successful outcomes depend on prompt, multidisciplinary action. Initial priority is securing the airway, ideally via awake fiberoptic intubation. Management is then individualized: minor injuries may be treated conservatively with observation and antibiotics, while larger or full-thickness lacerations require surgical repair. Complications such as stenosis, infection, and vocal cord dysfunction are common, necessitating long-term follow-up.
Conclusion: A high index of suspicion, immediate airway stabilization, and a coordinated, team-based approach are critical for managing tracheal trauma. Adherence to structured evaluation and treatment protocols significantly improves survival and reduces long-term sequelae.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Bader Omaym Assem Aljanfawi, Abdulaziz Muqrin Alshubrumi, Sultan Ayed Hammad Alharbi, Yousef Hulayyil Alanazi, Abdullah Fahad Al Ali, Asma Abdullah Mansour Al-Juraigir, Sarah Sanat Salem Alrashidi, Fatimah Farhan Khulaif Alanazi, Mansour Fahad Alrashidi, Majed Saleh Amag Alanezi, Ghadah Hamoud Alrashidi, Khalid Salem Almuhawwis, Fatmah Hassan Alqrin
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