Management of massive subcutaneous emphysema with a surgical tracheostomy | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Ear, Nose, Throat and Allied Sciences | ||
| Article 4, Volume 19, Issue 3, November 2018, Pages 97-100 PDF (802.9 K) | ||
| Document Type: Case report | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejentas.2018.6180.1051 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Christopher SN Yeoh1; Christopher Yeoh Yeoh Siu Ngee* 2; Sani Abdullah1 | ||
| 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center | ||
| 2Department Of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Introduction: Interventions for massive subcutaneous emphysema is rarely reported in the literature with lack of comparative studies and strong preferences over one treatment option compared to another. Tracheostomy is a conservative measure as compared to primary closure of tracheobronchial injury for the management of massive subcutaneous emphysema. Case report: A 62-year gentleman who developed massive subcutaneous emphysema on the 12th post-operative day following two laparoscopic abdominal surgeries and an exploratory laparotomy. A computer tomographic scan was performed showing a suspicious tenting of the trachea at right posterolateral wall at the level of T2 vertebra with locules of air seen anterolaterally to the trachea. A subsequent microlaryngobronchoscopy performed showed no defect in the subglottic region, nor tracheobronchial tree. He was successfully managed with a surgical tracheostomy whereby the emphysema showed dramatic resolution on the second postoperative day. Conclusion: Surgical tracheostomy demonstrated a success in managing massive subcutaneous emphysema. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Conservative; emphysema; tracheostomy; tracheobronchial injury | ||
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