[Case studies of iatrogenic tracheal injury during intraoperative ventral positioning. Symptoms, diagnostics, and differential therapy].

Two patients 16 and 21 years old developed tracheal rupture during elective surgery following trouble-free orotracheal intubation and intraoperative ventral positioning. The injuries remained undetected in both patients for more than 12 h. Diagnostic investigation after the onset of first symptoms indicated in each a tear in the posterior tracheal wall. Early operation prevented the development of serious complications in both patients. The casuistics indicate that tracheal injuries can emerge in minor elective surgery that may be carried out on an outpatient basis, and ventral positioning for surgery may represent a risk factor for their occurrence. Clinical symptoms, diagnostic procedure, findings, and therapy are discussed.