Nonaortic mediastinal injuries from blunt chest trauma

In addition to traumatic aortic injuries (TAI), blunt chest trauma may dama ge other structures in the mediastinum, including the tracheobronchial tree , the heart and pericardium, and rarely the esophagus. Tracheobronchial inj uries may be difficult to separate radiographically from accompanying paren chymal lung injuries. Experience with diagnosis by computed tomography (CT) is still Limited. Cardiac injuries often require emergent surgery before e xtensive imaging can be done. Some patients, usually those with chamber rup tures of the right heart, survive long enough to receive a chest CT, at whi ch lime hemopericardium can be detected. Upper esophageal injuries may occu r in conjunction with lower cervical or upper thoracic spine injures. Dista l esophageal injuries are rarely caused by blunt trauma.