ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the tracheobronchial, pulmonary and pleural injuries caused during interventions, their incidence, symptoms and management. Tracheobronchial ruptures are life-threatening lesions that may be a rare complication of tracheal intubation. Tracheal intubation may also be the cause of tracheal stenosis. The mechanism of iatrogenic tracheobronchial rupture is different from injuries due to traumas, leading to different appearance and therapeutic options. Survival after iatrogenic tracheobronchial rupture is related to the extent of the rupture, the neighbouring organs involved, the complications that occurred before and after treatment, as well as the underlying disease. Tracheal stenosis is another iatrogenic situation related to multiple attempts at emergency intubation, prolonged endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy and/or excessive inflation of the cuff in mechanically ventilated patients. The indication for surgical resection of iatrogenic tracheal stenosis is classically the complex stenosis with circumferential hourglass-like contraction, scarring, or malacia affecting tracheal cartilage.
