[Bilateral and pneumomediastinal pneumothorax after transoral laser microsurgery and tracheotomy]

Abstract

Transoral laser CO2 microsurgery is becoming an increasing used treatment option for cancer of the larynx and the pharynx. Amongst the advantages it has compared to open surgery and radiotherapy are, it less invasiveness, greater precision, better functional preservation of the organ, and less procedure-associated morbidity. However, this surgical technique is not without its complication, some being rare up until now, but with great clinical importance. We present the case of a patient subjected to microsurgery with a tracheotomy due to cancer of the larynx, who suffered a subcutaneous emphysema, and a bilateral and pneumomediastinal pneumothorax, requiring the appropriate measures for its control and stabilisation, which are described. A review was also performed of the current literature as regards anaesthetic considerations and the main peri-operative complications of laser microsurgery.