Tracheal rupture during transhiatal esophagectomy and anaesthetic problems. A case report.

Tracheal rupture is a rare but potentially serious complication of transhiatal esophagectomy (THE). In this situation, ventilation of the patient can be extremely difficult, even impossible, due to excessive gas leakage from tracheal tear. In this case report, we present such a patient in whom emergency thoracotomy and patching of the trachea were performed in order to maintain ventilation and oxygenation.