Repair of Iatrogenic Distal Tracheal Rupture by Left Thoracotomy

The trachea is readily accessed through a right thoracotomy. Further exposure of the distal trachea may be accomplished using a median sternotomy through a transpericardial approach. We report our experience of a case of iatrogenic tracheal rupture in a patient with a large left-sided posterior mediastinal tumor. Surgical resection of the mass and subsequent repair of the tracheal rupture was accomplished through a left thoracotomy.