Penetrating Tracheal injury- A surgical challenge

Penetrating Neck injury is rare and tracheal rupture is seen only in 14% cases. Tracheal injury can lead to serious consequences due to airway obstruction, bleeding, aspiration and severe sympathetic stimulation. We are reporting two cases of anterior tracheal rupture following assault with knife. About 95% of tracheal injury results from ballistic and knife injuries. In first case emergency tracheostomy was done through the same wound. In second case emergency tracheostomy was done from the non-injured area after fibreoptic guided orotracheal intubation. We opted for barium esophagography over gastrograffin swallow