title: Cervical surgical emphysema: a rare presentation of a sigmoid colon retroperitoneal diverticular perforation.
abstract: Spontaneous retroperitoneal sigmoid diverticular perforation presenting as subcutaneous cervical emphysema is rare. We describe a case successfully treated by surgery. Patients presenting with subcutaneous emphysema with negative thoracic findings should be scrutinised for signs of retroperitoneal hollow viscus perforation to improve their outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Leighton Hospital, Crewe, Cheshire, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corless
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications*; D009333:Neck; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*