Chest trauma: A case for single lung ventilation

Abstract

Chest trauma is one of the important causes of mortality and morbidity in pediatric trauma patients. The complexity, magnitude, and type of lung injury make it extremely challenging to provide optimal oxygenation and ventilation while protecting the lung from further injury due to mechanical ventilation. Independent lung ventilation is used sporadically in these patients who do not respond to these conventional ventilatory strategies using double-lumen endotracheal tubes, bronchial blocker balloons, etc. However, this equipment may not be easily available in developing countries, especially for pediatric patients. Here, we present a case of severe chest trauma with pulmonary contusion, flail chest, and bronchopleural fistula, who did not respond to conventional lung protective strategies. She was successfully managed with bronchoscopy-guided unilateral placement of conventional endotracheal tube followed by single lung ventilation leading to resolution of a chest injury.

Introduction

Chest trauma accounts for one-fifth of the deaths due to trauma in children.[1] Pulmonary contusion and flail chest constitute the most severe form of lung injury, which require meticulous respiratory support.[2] Here, we present a case of severe chest trauma who improved after single lung ventilation (SLV) using bronchoscopy-guided unilateral placement of conventional endotracheal tube.

Case Report

A 4-year-old female child presented with a history of accident with high-speed car. She was intubated and mechanically ventilated for poor respiratory efforts at a nearby hospital.   Chest radiograph (CXR) showed the right-sided pneumothorax requiring intercostal drainage tube insertion. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest revealed right-sided hemopneumothorax, multiple displaced rib fractures (4^th to 9^th ribs) and extensive contusion of underlying lung. Fractures at different segments of the 4^th and 5^th ribs were the cause of flail chest. In view of the high fraction of oxygen in inspired air (FiO₂) requirement and difficult ventilation, the child was referred to tertiary care facility.

At presentation to our hospital on the 5^th day of illness (D1 of hospitalisation), the child was hemodynamically stable, with Glasgow Coma Scale of 10. She was started on continuous midazolam and fentanyl infusions. The initial mode of ventilation was pressure-regulated volume control (PRVC) with settings of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) 5 cmH₂ O, FiO₂ 0.8, tidal volume 120 ml (at 6 ml/kg), and rate 35/min. The plateau pressure (Pplt) was between 30 and 32 cmH₂ O and SpO₂ >92%. CXR showed persistent right-sided pneumothorax with intercostal tube drain (ICD) in situ, multiple rib fractures from 4^th to 9^th rib with diffuse haziness of the right lung suggestive of contusion. Another ICD was inserted in the right pneumothorax which showed continuous bubbling suggestive of bronchopleural fistula. Bedside fiberoptic flexible bronchoscopy (FFB) on day 2 of admission showed clots, secretions, and incomplete mucosal tear on the posteromedial aspect of the right main bronchus [Figure 1].

Figure 1.

Flexible bronchoscopic appearance of right main bronchus showing linear tear of posteromedial aspect

The ventilator strategy was titrated to achieve low-tidal volume (4-6 ml/kg), lower and optimal PEEP (5-6 cmH₂O), with Pplt <35 cm H₂ O with targets of PCO₂ <60 mmHg and SpO₂ >88%.

Even with optimal gentle ventilation for the next 5 days, the child showed no improvement in radiological and ventilation and oxygenation status [Table 1]. Repeat contrast-enhanced CT of the chest and pulmonary angiography showed multiple lung contusions bilaterally (right > left), right pneumothorax with preserved vascularity of the right lung.

Table 1.

Mechanical ventilation parameters and blood gases status during Pediatric Intensive Care Unit stay

Serial FFBs through endotracheal tube were carried out for removal of clots and secretions. Selective left lung intubation was done with the bronchoscope and single lung ventilated with PRVC mode with PEEP 5 cm H₂ O, tidal volume - 4 ml/kg, rate 25-30/min, FiO₂ 0.6, and Pplt 28-30 cmH₂ O [Figure 2].

Figure 2.

Chest radiograph showing selective left main bronchus intubation with multiple rib fractures, opacification of hemithorax and two intercostal drainage tube on right-sided and scattered opacities in mid and lower zones of left lung

The child was continued to be on Single Lung Ventilation (SLV) for 72 h along with nonventilatory supportive therapies, during which time her FiO₂ requirement decreased to 0.5, Pplt decreased to 25 cmH₂ O, PaO₂ /FiO₂ ratio improved to 200. There was marked radiological improvement and air drainage from ICD ceased. Repeat FFB showed complete healing of the tear. She was gradually weaned from ventilator and was successfully extubated.

Discussion

Chest trauma accounts for 14% of trauma-related mortality in children and 80% are due to blunt injury.[1,3] The lethality of isolated chest traumas is about 5% to 8% and it increases progressively with associated injury to other body organ systems.[4] In the pediatric patient, pulmonary contusion is the most common type present in 70% cases followed by rib fractures and pneumothorax. Injury to the mediastinal structures is rare in children.[5] Flail chest is the most severe form of injury with high mortality.[6] Tracheobronchial injuries mostly occur as a component of multiple traumas and 80% of ruptures are located around the carina on the right main bronchus.[7,8]

Although clinical assessment provides clues about the severity of trauma and the resultant injuries, CXR, an important initial diagnostic modality, is abnormal in 60-90% of cases but may not identify injury to mediastinal structures.[2] CT scan is the investigation of choice to detect pulmonary contusion.[9] If necessary FFB and CT pulmonary angiography, echocardiography and electrocardiogram may provide further diagnostic information.[2]

The use of optimal analgesia and aggressive chest physiotherapy should be applied to minimize the likelihood of respiratory failure.[6] Positive pressure provides the pneumatic stabilization, but obligatory mechanical ventilation in the absence of respiratory failure solely for the purpose of overcoming chest wall instability should be avoided. Noninvasive ventilation should be considered whenever possible in conscious patients.[6] Prevention of atelectasis and infection requires meticulous nursing care and chest physiotherapy. Frequent FFB helps sufficient removal of secretions and blood from the lungs.[2,10]

In the present case, continuous infusion of midazolam and fentanyl provided sedation and analgesia; positive pressure ventilation through endotracheal tube provided stability of flail chest segment, and repeated FFBs were done to clear clots and secretions from the airways.

High-frequency ventilation (HFV) is another mode of ventilation used mainly as a rescue mode of ventilation. Since patients with pulmonary contusion have pathology similar to acute respiratory distress syndrome, HFV with its higher mean airway pressure and lower tidal volumes achieves all the goals of lung protection by preventing cyclical de-recruitment and overdistension.[11] Improvement in PaO₂ /FiO₂ ratio and reduced mortality were seen with use of HFV in patients with pulmonary contusion requiring higher mean peak pressure (>30 cm of H₂ O) and higher FiO₂ (>60%).[12] In the present case, right main bronchus tear precluded the use of HFV.

Independent lung ventilation (ILV) is considered in patients with severe unilateral chest trauma in whom ventilation-perfusion mismatch is unresponsive to conventional support.[6] Ruptures above the carina can be protected with a single- or double-lumen tube, whereas ruptures at the carina level or more distal ones make a double-lumen tube indispensable.[13] Further distally, a univent bronchial blocker may be necessary to isolate the affected bronchopulmonary segment and to promote healing.[14] During ILV, two separate machines are used with independent settings depending on the lung mechanics. ILV is often maintained until the disparities in lung mechanics between the injured and uninjured lung begin to resolve. Monitoring of peak and Pplts, lung compliance, and radiographic findings may guide decisions to convert to whole lung ventilation and further ventilation liberation.[15] Surgical closure is usually necessary in unresponsive cases.[16] In a case series by Hurst et al., ILV was initiated for 8 patients with pulmonary contusion with significant improvements in PaO₂ and shunt fraction with seven patients surviving.[17]

In our case, the child continued to be on high ventilator settings, with persistent bronchopleural fistula and worsening CXR in spite of lung protective ventilator strategies on conventional ventilation, so she was considered for SLV. Due to nonavailability of double-lumen tube for our child, FFB-guided left main bronchus intubation was done. For the same reason, we used SLV instead of ILV. The right lung oxygenation was probably provided through Murphy's eye. The child showed clinical and radiological improvement with resolution of bronchopleural fistula and pulmonary contusions. Since there are no guidelines to specify patient selection, time of initiation, ventilator settings, and termination time for SLV or ILV especially in children, such approach may be considered on an individual basis. Further, FFB-guided unilateral placement of endotracheal tube along with lung protective strategies can be used in settings where the specialized equipment is not available.

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Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest