Trauma of the Larynx and Cervical Esophagus

Abstract

Upper aerodigestive tract trauma is rare occurrence, but can have devastating consequences. Immediate complications including airway compromise can be life threatening and complicate resuscitative efforts. Long-term sequelae can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life by limiting one’s ability to breathe, phonate, and/or swallow. This review provides an overview of upper aerodigestive trauma, where many of these injuries occur concomitantly, but this text is divided into three main categories of: laryngeal framework, upper aerodigestive perforation, and adult caustic ingestion. The initial management of these injuries can be reflexive and mundane, but also are frequently nuanced and challenging, where personal experiences in management of these patients results in mastery.  This review contains 9 figures, 4 tables and 82 references.  Keywords: Laryngeal trauma, laryngeal facture, esophageal perforation, caustic ingestion