Yeoh, C., Siu Ngee, C., Abdullah, S. (2018). Management of massive subcutaneous emphysema with a surgical tracheostomy. Egyptian Journal of Ear, Nose, Throat and Allied Sciences, 19(3), 97-100. doi: 10.21608/ejentas.2018.6180.1051
Christopher SN Yeoh; Christopher Yeoh Yeoh Siu Ngee; Sani Abdullah. "Management of massive subcutaneous emphysema with a surgical tracheostomy". Egyptian Journal of Ear, Nose, Throat and Allied Sciences, 19, 3, 2018, 97-100. doi: 10.21608/ejentas.2018.6180.1051
Yeoh, C., Siu Ngee, C., Abdullah, S. (2018). 'Management of massive subcutaneous emphysema with a surgical tracheostomy', Egyptian Journal of Ear, Nose, Throat and Allied Sciences, 19(3), pp. 97-100. doi: 10.21608/ejentas.2018.6180.1051
Yeoh, C., Siu Ngee, C., Abdullah, S. Management of massive subcutaneous emphysema with a surgical tracheostomy. Egyptian Journal of Ear, Nose, Throat and Allied Sciences, 2018; 19(3): 97-100. doi: 10.21608/ejentas.2018.6180.1051
Management of massive subcutaneous emphysema with a surgical tracheostomy
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.