[Subcutaneous, pneumomediastinal, pneumopericardial emphysema and pneumothorax following retrosigmoid resection].
Pulmonary alveolar rupture can occur spontaneously or as a result of mechanical ventilation or other causes, and may give rise to bullae or emphysema without producing extrapulmonary air. Most but not all cases occur in patients with underlying lung disease. We describe a patient with no history of lung disease who underwent anterior sigmoid resection under combined (general/epidural) anesthesia. Soon after the patient awoke from anesthesia, subcutaneous, pneumomediastinal and pneumopericardiac emphysema developed, along with bilateral pneumothorax. We discuss the possible causes of extra-alveolar air was well as ways to detect and treat it.
de Frutos-López
S
S
Servicio de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapia del Dolor, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid.
Muñoz-García
J
J
Ruiz-Castro
M
M
Vidal-Marcos
A
A
Palma-Gámiz
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*