title: Pneumoscrotum as complication of blunt thoracic trauma: a case report.
abstract: Introduction. Pneumoscrotum is a rare clinical entity. It presents with swollen scrotal sac and sometimes with palpable crepitus. It has many etiologies. One of them is due to blunt trauma of the thoracic cage, causing pneumothorax and/or pneumomediastinum. Case Presentation. We report the case of an 82-year-old male who was transferred to the Emergency Department with signs of respiratory distress after a blunt chest trauma. A CT scan was obtained, and bilateral pneumothoraces with four broken ribs were disclosed. Subcutaneous emphysema expanding from the eyelids to the scrotum was observed, and a chest tube was inserted on the right side with immediate improvement of the vital signs of the patient. Discussion. Pneumoscrotum has three major etiologies: (a) local introduction of air or infection from gas-producing bacteria, (b) pneumoperitoneum, and (c) air accumulation from lungs, mediastinum, or retroperitoneum. These sources account for most of the cases described in the literature. Treatment should be individualized, and surgical consultation should be obtained in all cases. Conclusion. Although pneumoscrotum itself is a benign entity, the process by which air accumulates in the scrotum must be clarified, and treatment must target the primary cause.
authors: 1st Department of Surgery, General Hospital of Kavala, Agios Silas, 65500 Kavala, Greece.
authors: Eftychios
authors: E
authors: Lostoridis
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Gkagkalidis
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Varsamis
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Salveridis
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Karageorgiou
authors: Spyridon
authors: S
authors: Kampantais
authors: Paraskevi
authors: P
authors: Tourountzi
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Pouggouras
references: Ann Emerg Med. 1993 Aug;22(8):1353-6
references: 8333643
references: J Pediatr Surg. 1969 Feb;4(1):102-7
references: 5779274
references: Urology. 1992 Dec;40(6):517-21
references: 1466104
references: Surg Endosc. 1999 Dec;13(12):1243-6
references: 10594277
references: J Emerg Med. 2012 Mar;42(3):279-82
references: 19201137
references: Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2007 Jul;89(5):W20-1
references: 17688713
references: Radiographics. 2000 Jul-Aug;20(4):1043-57
references: 10903694
references: Can J Anaesth. 1993 May;40(5 Pt 1):459-64
references: 8513527
references: J Emerg Med. 1994 Sep-Oct;12(5):603-5
references: 7989685