Pneumothorax

Palpebral fissure

Complication

Surgery

Subcutaneous emphysema

Thoracostomy

Dysphagia

Medicine

International Journal of Surgery Case Reports

Subcutaneous emphysema (SE) is a frequent and often self-limiting complication of tube thoracostomy or other cardiothoracic procedures. On rare occasions, severe and extensive surgical emphysema marked by palpable cutaneous tension, dysphagia, dysphonia, palpebral closure or associated with pneumoperitoneum, airway compromise, "tension phenomenon" and respiratory failure require treatment.

Management of extensive surgical emphysema with subcutaneous drain: A case report