Complete Tracheal Transection in a 3-Year-Old after Blunt Neck Trauma: A Case Report

Pediatric laryngotracheal injuries from blunt force trauma are extremely rare but can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. The pediatric larynx is positioned more superiorly than in adults, which allows the mandibular arch to partially shield the larynx from injury. The laryngeal cartilage is also more flexible in pediatric patients, which also decreases the likelihood of laryngotracheal injuries. However, when these injuries occur, the narrower lumen of the pediatric airway and the loose attachment of the mucosa to the underlying tissues predispose children to rapidly progressing airway edema and obstruction.[1,2] In pediatric patients with severe laryngotracheal disruption, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used to improve oxygenation and ventilation until definitive repair can be performed. We describe the case of a 3-year-old girl with blunt neck trauma secondary to an all-terrain vehicle accident in which her neck was clotheslined against a barbed-wire fence. This led to a complete tracheal transection at the C7-T1 level. Emergent ECMO cannulation was initiated to improve her oxygenation and to repair her trachea. We discuss the initial evaluation and management of tracheal injuries and the multidisciplinary team approach required for successful treatment. We obtained written consent from the patient's biological mother for this case presentation.

A 3-year-old girl presented to the emergency department after she was struck in the neck by barbed wire while riding an all-terrain vehicle. On arrival to the trauma bay, she had a blood pressure of 121/61 mmHg, a heart rate of 133 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute, and an oxygen saturation of 84% on a non-rebreather. On examination, she had a cervical collar in place, obvious facial trauma with severe periorbital edema, neck swelling, and absent lung sounds bilaterally. Immediate plans were made for endotracheal intubation. Direct laryngoscopy was performed by the emergency room physician and a 4.5-cuffed endotracheal tube (ETT) was placed through the vocal cords with only slight improvement in oxygenation. A bedside chest X-ray revealed bilateral pneumothoraxes, so bilateral chest tubes were placed. Her oxygenation improved and she was taken to a computed tomography (CT) scanner. CT imaging revealed subcutaneous emphysema extending from the level of the occiput to the flanks, as well as substantial pneumomediastinum. The trachea was completely transected at the C7-T1 level and the tip of the ETT was free in the mediastinum (Figure 1).

Fig. 1

On arrival in the operating room (OR), the patient had been paralyzed with rocuronium and was intubated as described above. Vital signs were as follows: blood pressure 96/53 mmHg, heart rate 125 beats per minute, ventilator rate 40 breaths per minute, SPO₂ 100%. A left radial arterial line and two peripheral intravenous lines were placed. The anesthesiologist and the pediatric otolaryngologist attempted to advance the ETT from its current position beyond the tracheal transection site, but with each attempt, the patient's oxygen saturation immediately dropped to the 50s and several minutes of handbag ventilation were required to recover appropriate oxygenation; therefore, this approach was abandoned. We decided to place the patient on ECMO. ECMO was initiated and she underwent open repair of the tracheal injury. Upon incision, the distal end of the ETT was found free in the superior portion of the mediastinum at the base of the neck (Figure 2). The tracheal injury was a clean transection with no destruction of the tracheal rings. The tracheal transection was the only serious injury suffered; all other nearby structures were uninjured. An end-to-end anastomosis was performed for primary repair of the trachea (Figure 3). At the end of the case, a new nasotracheal tube was placed so the patient could remain intubated postoperatively to protect the anastomosis and allow time for healing. After ETT replacement, the patient was successfully weaned from ECMO and transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit. One week later, she returned to the OR for rigid bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy, which showed bilateral true vocal cord mobility, glottic edema, and a well-healing tracheal anastomosis (Figure 4). The patient remained intubated and returned to the OR 2 weeks postoperatively for a second rigid bronchoscopy, esophagoscopy, and extubation, all of which proceeded uneventfully (Figure 5). The patient was discharged home 5 days later, 19 days after admission. Three weeks postoperatively, her glottic edema had largely resolved and her tracheal anastomosis appeared well healed, apart from a small suture granuloma (Figure 6). She continues to do well and has no detectable neurologic deficits.

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Less than 1% of all adult patients with significant blunt trauma suffer laryngeal injuries.[3,4] Laryngotracheal injuries are estimated to be found in approximately 1 to 12 per 30,000 emergency department admissions.[2,3,4,5] There are no pediatric-specific data about the incidence of laryngeal trauma, but it is accepted that these cases are much rarer. The rarity of pediatric airway trauma can be attributed to behavioral factors that tend not to put children at the same risk of blunt trauma to the neck. In addition, there are also anatomic factors that make laryngeal trauma less likely.[2,6] Pediatric patients have shorter necks, and this helps to shield the larynx behind the arch of the mandible. Pediatric patients also have greater pliability of their laryngeal cartilages, which reduces the likelihood of fractures and the severity of tracheal injury. [3,7] Unfortunately, when children experience laryngotracheal trauma, the consequences are often catastrophic. Given the narrower lumen of the pediatric airway, children poorly tolerate edema and hematoma formation, often leading to airway compromise.[6,7]

Laryngotracheal injuries are classified into five groups based on severity (Table 1). These range from minor endolaryngeal laceration or hematoma (group 1) to complete laryngotracheal separation (group 5).[6] The presenting signs and symptoms of children with laryngotracheal injuries can range from a mild sore throat and dysphonia to unconsciousness, stridor, and frank respiratory distress.[3,7,8,9] It is vital to understand that children with blunt laryngeal trauma can often present relatively asymptomatically but can rapidly progress to complete airway obstruction. Providers must be highly vigilant in their initial evaluation to mitigate the high lethality associated with laryngotracheal injuries. It has also been suggested that early recognition and prompt treatment improves prognosis.[2,3,10] On examination, anterior neck ecchymosis, loss of laryngeal landmarks, edema, subcutaneous emphysema, and palpable cartilage fractures are ominous signs and should alert the treating physician to the possibility of laryngotracheal injury. [3,8]

Initial management of children with laryngotracheal injuries varies based on how stable the patient's airway is. Children deemed to have unstable airways require placement of a definitive airway, but whether this should be an ETT placement or surgical tracheostomy remains contested. [5,7,8,11,12] Proponents of surgical tracheostomy argue that ETT placement risks exacerbating mucosal lacerations, further disrupting displaced structures and leading to complete laryngotracheal separation, creation of false passages, or inadvertent placement of the ETT into the mediastinum or pleura, as occurred in our case.[5,8] The most significant consideration regarding ETT placement is failed endotracheal intubation, which requires emergent surgical airway access, with potentially disastrous consequences. Under the correct conditions, however, ETT placement can be performed safely. This requires an expert physician, excellent visualization of the airway, and a small ETT.[2,5,12] Gold et al.[5] recommend using a rigid bronchoscope to secure the airway under direct visualization in the operating room. For patients with stable airways, an otolaryngologist should be consulted as soon as possible for flexible laryngoscopic examination followed by microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy as indicated.[10]

Blunt laryngotracheal trauma is uncommon in pediatric patients, which is reflected in the paucity of literature on the subject. While many of these patients may present initially with no symptoms or minor ones, they can rapidly progress to respiratory distress; a high degree of vigilance is required to successfully manage these patients. When these patients have unstable airways, they require definitive airway management. While the manner of airway management remains controversial, it should unquestionably be performed by the most skilled and experienced personnel available, ideally in the operating room. Recent advances in the management of laryngotracheal injuries, including endoscopic techniques and ECMO, have decreased the morbidity and mortality associated with the injuries. Nonetheless, morbidity and mortality remain high in patients who have suffered high-grade laryngotracheal injuries.