title: Pneumocephalus and subcutaneous scalp emphysema in a neonate on a low-flow nasal cannula.
abstract: A 15-day-old boy after intracardiac repair was discharged from the intensive care unit with a low-flow nasal cannula for oxygen administration. The cannula was a 4-Fr multi-purpose tube with a side hole that was inserted into his left nostril. Next day, he suddenly developed pneumocephalus emerging from the right periorbital swelling and extending to his face and subcutaneous scalp over the next 6 h. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed massive air pockets in the orbit, subdural space, subcutaneous scalp, and face. The nasal cannula was found to have been inserted deeper than we thought and was thus presumed to be the source of the air pockets. We immediately removed the cannula. Follow-up CTs revealed rapid resolution of the intracranial and subcutaneous air. The subcutaneous emphysema completely disappeared over the next 4 days, and he was discharged without any incident.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 9518510, Japan. aisugimoto@me.com.
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 9518510, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 9518510, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 9518510, Japan.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 9518510, Japan.
authors.forename: Moon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiyong
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 9518510, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
mesh_terms: D000072601:Cannula / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012535:Scalp; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Neonate; Oxygen inhalation therapy; Pneumocephalus; Subcutaneous emphysema