title: Cervical pneumatocoele following total thyroidectomy.
abstract: Cervical pneumatocoele following thyroidectomy is rare. Urgent surgical intervention is necessary in the setting of widespread tissue emphysema and respiratory embarrassment. We describe a patient with a large pneumatocoele presenting six weeks after a total thyroidectomy who was managed  successfully without surgical re-exploration. We also discuss the aetiology of cervical pneumatocoele as well as the potential indications for operative versus conservative management.
authors.affiliation: Austin Hospital, Department of Surgery, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia. dshliu@bigpond.com
authors.forename: D S H
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jayaweera
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000601:surgery