Division of the trachea

Division of the trachea

Wounds of the trachea are rare. They should all be formally explored and, to obtain adequate exposure, it is usually neces - sary to divide and ligate the thyroid isthmus. A small trache - ostomy below the wound followed by repair of the trachea with a limited number of submucosal sutures is appropriate. In self-inflicted wounds, the recurrent laryngeal nerves, which lie protected in the tracheo-oesophageal g rooves, are rarely injured. Primary repair of the nerve is rarely possible but may be undertaken at the time of formal exploration of a major neck wound. Division of the trachea

Wounds of the trachea are rare. They should all be formally explored and, to obtain adequate exposure, it is usually neces - sary to divide and ligate the thyroid isthmus. A small trache - ostomy below the wound followed by repair of the trachea with a limited number of submucosal sutures is appropriate. In self-inflicted wounds, the recurrent laryngeal nerves, which lie protected in the tracheo-oesophageal g rooves, are rarely injured. Primary repair of the nerve is rarely possible but may be undertaken at the time of formal exploration of a major neck wound.