Upper airway obstruction as a result of massive subcutaneous emphysema following accidental removal of an intercostal drain.
A case is described of extensive subcutaneous emphysema with rapid and life-threatening airway obstruction. The incident followed inadvertent removal of a chest drain in a patient with a persistent air leak from an iatrogenic pneumothorax. The pneumothorax had developed during pacemaker insertion.
Williams
D J
DJ
Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London SW6 6NP, UK. davidwilliams@doctors.org.uk
Jaggar
S I
SI
Morgan
C J
CJ
D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D015505:Chest Tubes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed