Pneumomediastinum, bilateral pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and surgical emphysema after routine apicectomy caused by vomiting.
Mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema may occur after dental and oral surgery as a result of iatrogenic introduction of air or injury to the tracheobronchial tree. We report a patient who developed emphysema and pneumothorax after dentoalveolar surgery, which made diagnosis and management difficult. We suggest that persistent postoperative vomiting caused inhalation of mediastinal and intrathoracic air.
Gulati
Archita
A
General Surgery at Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, Oldham OL1 2JH, United Kingdom. architamonga@googlemail.com
Baldwin
Andrew
A
Intosh
Ian Mc
IM
Krishnan
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001047:Apicoectomy; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000150:complications*; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*