Penetrating Tracheal Injuries – A Kashmir Experience

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.