Cervicofacial and mediastinal emphysema after crown preparation: a rare complication.
Cervicofacial emphysema is a well-known complication associated with the use of a high-speed air turbine. However, retropharyngeal emphysema or pneumomediastinum in the absence of severe trauma is rare. Immediate recognition of this phenomenon is essential to avoid life-threatening complications such as potential airway obstruction or venous air embolism. This article reports a case of gas diffusion into the mediastinum after dental preparatory treatment for a single-tooth crown. Pneumomediastinum should be considered whenever there are anamnestic data for retrosternal chest pain accompanied by dysphagia, dysphonia, or dyspnea caused by cervicofacial emphysema after dental treatment.
Zemann
Wolfgang
W
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria. wolfgang.zemann@meduni-graz.at
Feichtinger
Matthias
M
Kärcher
Hans
H
D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003442:Crowns; D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*; D019231:Tooth Preparation, Prosthodontic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation