Iatrogenic oesopha-geal perforation due to tracheal or naso-gastric intubation

Oesophageal perforation, due to a difficult endotracheal or nasogastric intubation occurred in a 49-year-old female. Perforation of the oesophagus is a rare complication of intubation of the trachea or oesophagus. Endotracheal intubation alone is most often blamed for iatrogenic oesophageal trauma following surgery. The incidence of iatrogenic oesophageal trauma is similar after nasogastric or endotracheal intubation. Iatrogenic oesophageal perforation occurs principally over the crico-pharyngeus muscle on the posterior wall of the oesophagus. Here the oesophagus is thin and is markedly narrowed. Contamination of the perioesophageal space with gastric contents leads to diffuse cellulitis and infection. Diagnosis is made by evidence of cervical subcutaneous emphysema, cervical pain, dysphagia, temperature elevation and leukocytosis. Plain roentenograms of the neck and a contrast media swallow will confirm the diagnosis. Treatment consists of massive antibiotic therapy followed by surgical repair and drainage of the area. Mortality ranges from 10-15 per cent with early diagnosis to 50 per cent if surgery is delayed.     

Subcutaneous cervical emphysema and pneumomediastinum due to a diastatic rupture of the cecum

Pneumomediastinum usually occurs after esophageal or chest trauma. Subcutaneous cervical emphysema as a presentation of non-traumatic colonic perforation following colorectal cancer or diverticulitis, is very rare.We report a case of a patient with rectal cancer who developed a diastatic cecum retroperitoneal perforation with a secondary pneumo-mediastinum and cervical emphysema. The patient was in treatment with a neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy for a low rectal cancer.Treatment consisted in an emergency right hemi-colectomy with ileostomy and performance of distal colonic fistula.The Authors discuss the occurrence of pneumomediastinum and cervical emphysema complicating rectal cancer, pointing out ethio-pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. The importance of performing a diverting colostomy when neoadjuvant chemotherapy is scheduled in patients with stenotic rectal cancer, although not clinically occluded     

Iatrogenic oesophageal perforation due to tracheal or nasogastric intubation

Oesophageal perforation, due to a difficult endotracheal or nasogastric intubation occurred in a 49-year-old female. Perforation of the oesophagus is a rare complication of intubation of the trachea or oesophagus. Endotracheal intubation alone is most often blamed for iatrogenic oesophageal trauma following surgery. The incidence of iatrogenic oesophageal trauma is similar after nasogastric or endotracheal intubation. Iatrogenic oesophageal perforation occurs principally over the cricopharyngeus muscle on the posterior wall of the oesophagus. Here the oesophagus is thin and is markedly narrowed. Contamination of the perioesophageal space with gastric contents leads to diffuse cellulitis and infection. Diagnosis is made by evidence of cervical subcutaneous emphysema, cervical pain, dysphagia, temperature elevation and leukocytosis. Plain roentenograms of the neck and a contrast media swallow will confirm the diagnosis. Treatment consists of massive antibiotic therapy followed by surgical repair and drainage of the area. Mortality ranges from 10-15 per cent with early diagnosis to 50 per cent if surgery is delayed.     

Subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and dental extraction

One case of pneumomediastinum due to subcutaneous emphysema occurring after using a high speed air turbine drill during dental extraction was described, as only a few cases have been published in the literature. Air may have entered the soft tissues directly by being forced down the gingival crevice. The air may then have passed by way of the fascial planes to enter deeper structures and the mediastinum. The consequences of this condition after general anaesthesia were discussed, more common aetiologies being tracheal or oesophageal rupture, bronchial rupture or pneumothorax.     

Hemodynamic and catecholamine response to tracheal intubation: direct laryngoscopy compared with fiberoptic intubation

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the stress response following tracheal intubation using direct laryngoscopy to that using fiberoptic bronchoscopy technique. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective study. SETTING: Operating rooms in a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 51 ASA physical status I and II patients who were scheduled for an elective surgery with general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either direct laryngoscopy or fiberoptic orotracheal intubation, as part of general anesthesia. A uniform protocol of anesthetic medications was used. MEASUREMENTS: Blood pressure and heart rate were measured before induction, before endotracheal intubation, and 1, 2, 3, and 5 minutes afterwards. Catecholamine (epinephrine and norepinephrine) blood samples were drawn before the induction, and 1 and 5 minutes after intubation. MAIN RESULTS: Duration of intubation was shorter in the direct laryngoscopy group (16.9 (16.9 +/- 7.0 sec, range 8 to 40) compared with the fiberoptic intubation group (55.0 +/- 22.5 sec, range 29 to 120), p < 0.0,001. In both groups, blood pressure and heart rate were significantly increased at 1, 2, and 3 minutes after intubation, but there was no significant difference between the two study groups. Catecholamine levels did not increase after intubation and did not correlate with the hemodynamic changes. CONCLUSIONS: The use of either direct laryngoscopy or fiberoptic bronchoscopy produces a comparable stress response to tracheal intubation. Catecholamine levels do not correlate with the hemodynamic changes.     

Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum complicating labor in a twin pregnancy

Although a rare complication of labor, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum (Hamman's syndrome) must be considered in the parturient complaining of chest or neck pain, dysphagia, or shortness of breath. With conservative management, the prognosis is favorable. The case presented is the first of Hamman's syndrome complicating the labor of a twin gestation. The pathophysiology, symptoms, and management guidelines for the syndrome are reviewed.     

Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema after translaryngeal jet ventilation

The use of emergency transtracheal jet ventilation in a 62 year-old female with laryngeal papillomatosis and respiratory distress is reported. Adequate ventilation of the lungs with an intermittent jet of oxygen under high pressure (5 bar) allowed anaesthesia and surgery to be carried out. Pathogenesis of the mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema discovered at the end of the procedure is discussed.     

Subcutaneous emphysema and spontaneous pneumomediastinum in non-intubated COVID-19 patient: Presenting unusual case report

Introduction and importanceIn non-intubated COVID-19 patients, subcutaneous emphysema and spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) remain rarely, with incidence rates of 3.0 and 1.2 per 100,000, respectively; nevertheless, the occurrence of these conditions in COVID-19 patients is unclear. Up to date only few cases have been reported. The mechanism of pneumomediastinum in non-intubated COVID-19 patients remains unclear.Case presentationHere we present a 63-year-old male with subcutaneous emphysema, and spontaneous pneumomediastinum with a 1-day history of chest pain and productive cough, without chills and dyspnea. The patient was diagnosed by nasopharyngeal RT-PCR, Chest CT, and laboratory findings. The patient successfully treated by given double (mask and nasal) oxygen therapy, antibacterial (moxifloxacin tablet 400 mg) every 24 h for 7 days, followed by antiviral (lopinavir tablet 400 mg) twice daily for 6 days and corticosteroid treatments as well as steroid therapy (methylprednisolone 40 mg) daily for 8 days. Subcutaneous emphysema treated by supraclavicular slit-like incision (3 cm) bilaterally and milking of skin from face, neck, shoulders and chest done for three days for subcutaneous emphysema but regarding the pneumomediastinum we did only follow up of the patient.Clinical discussionSpontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema are rare clinical finding in non-intubation of COVID-19 patients but frequently common in patients with coronavirus acute respiratory distress syndrome (COV-ARDS), or intubated COVID-19. In the present paper, subcutaneous emphysema and spontaneous pneumomediastinum occurred at the same time, with no past history of pulmonary diseases, and smoking of the patient. The only reason of this patient was high-pressure repetitive cough.ConclusionThe authors declared that COVID-19 infection leading to subcutaneous emphysema and spontaneous pneumomediastinum in non-intubated COVID-19 patients. Our case revealed that oxygen therapy, bed rest, analgesic, and supraclavicular slit-like incision best option for treat subcutaneous emphysema (SE) and spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM).     

Difficult laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation due to calcified stylohyoid ligaments

Two cases of difficult laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation caused by calcified stylohyoid ligaments are presented. Neither patient exhibited a skin crease over the hyoid bone. It is suggested that inability to lift up the epiglottis from the posterior pharyngeal wall be taken as a more useful sign of this condition than the presence of the skin crease.