Left thoracotomy for distal tracheal repair

When consulted emergently by another surgeon in the operating room, we accomplished repair of a major laceration of the posterior wall of the distal trachea with associated avulsion of the left upper-lobe bronchus via the existing left thoracotomy exposure in a 7-year-old girl. Mobilization of the descending aorta anteriorly provided adequate exposure of the tracheal injury.