Delayed Post-Operative Subcutaneous Emphysema

Yuchen Jiang; Rajini Rajagopal; Stephanie Germain; Priyamal Silva

doi:10.7759/cureus.13051

Delayed Post-Operative Subcutaneous Emphysema

Cureus. 2021 Feb 1;13(2):e13051. doi: 10.7759/cureus.13051.

Authors

Yuchen Jiang¹, Rajini Rajagopal¹, Stephanie Germain¹, Priyamal Silva²

Affiliations

¹ Otolaryngology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, GBR.
² Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, GBR.

Abstract

The authors present the case of an 87-year-old woman who developed a delayed onset of subcutaneous emphysema post-operatively. We discuss the causative factors - in this case, presumed injury to her hypo-pharynx during a reportedly uneventful endotracheal intubation, the investigations and the management of this rare complication.

Keywords: aerodigiestive tract; endotracheal intubation; hypopharynx; subcutaneous emphysema; surgical emphysema.

Publication types

Case Reports