Subcutaneous emphysema of the thorax heralding colonic perforation.
Subcutaneous emphysema of the thorax may follow thoracic operations for a number of essentially benign reasons and does not usually cause much concern to the thoracic surgeon. We report subcutaneous emphysema of the thorax heralding a retroperitoneal colonic perforation in a patient who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting 3 days previously.
Catarino
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PA
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. George's Hospital, London, England. catarino@doctors.org.uk
Smith
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EE
D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery