Tracheal Rupture in an Adolescent Female Presenting with Chest Pain and Subcutaneous Emphysema at the Emergency Department: A Case Report

Abstract

Tracheal injuries that can lead to life-threatening results are extremely uncommon in children. Although the majority are seen following trauma or invasive procedures, a few paediatric cases exist in the literature of spontaneous tracheal rupture. In the case reported here, a 15-year-old female presented at the Emergency Department with complaints of a sudden onset of chest pain, difficulty breathing, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum. On the computed tomography image, a tracheal rupture 8 mm in size was present in the posterior right lateral section. Using a conservative approach, the patient recovered without any complications. If a the presence of chest pain, tracheal rupture should be considered. using a conservative approach.