title: [Cervical emphysema after tonsillectomy. A case report].
abstract: Tonsillectomy is one of the surgical procedures most frequently performed by the ENT specialist. It is considered easy and safe, but many complications have been described. Cervical subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum are immediate complications relatively infrequent. Deep dissection of the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle creates a continuity that dries the cervicofacial planes, until it reaches the parapharyngeal, retropharyngeal and prevertebral spaces. It can even reach the mediastinum producing a pneumothorax, which is facilitated by coughing, vomiting or manual ventilation after extubating.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello, Hospital Central Militar de México, México DF. drvillagra@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Villagra Siles
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Perales
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García Mendoza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaiden Torrez
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*