Management of Laryngotracheal trauma: A review of current trends and future Directions

J Pak Med Assoc. 2020 Feb;70(Suppl 1)(2):S60-S64.

Abstract

Laryngotracheal trauma is rare but can pose serious threats to one's life. Presenting symptoms vary according to the severity of injury. Immediate Airway control is first step in the management, intubation should be considered by a senior member of the trauma team if the injury is minor while tracheostomy should be reserved for more severe injuries. Evaluation by a fibre-optic laryngoscopy and CT scan should be done whenever possible. Reconstruction is done according to the site involved using suture, titanium miniplates and stents. Tissue engineering has added a new horizon in this management but up till now complete laryngotracheal regeneration is very far-fetched, but tissue regeneration at individual sites have shown some positive results. More work needs to be done in this less explored field including laryngeal transplantation.

Keywords: Larynx, Trachea, Trauma, Management..

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Airway Management / methods
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
  • Conservative Treatment*
  • Dysphonia / etiology
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Esophagoscopy
  • Fractures, Cartilage / complications
  • Fractures, Cartilage / therapy*
  • Hemoptysis / etiology
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Lacerations / complications
  • Lacerations / therapy*
  • Laryngeal Cartilages / injuries
  • Laryngeal Edema / etiology
  • Laryngeal Edema / therapy*
  • Laryngoscopy
  • Larynx / injuries*
  • Neck Injuries / complications
  • Neck Injuries / therapy
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures*
  • Respiratory Sounds / etiology
  • Stents
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema
  • Thoracic Injuries / complications
  • Thoracic Injuries / therapy
  • Tissue Scaffolds
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Trachea / injuries*
  • Tracheostomy
  • Vocal Cord Paralysis / etiology

Substances

  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins