Biomaterial Database

Massive subcutaneous emphysema following percutaneous tracheostomy. 2002

David M Kaylie, and Mark K Wax

Oregon Health & Science University Portland, Oregon 97201, USA.

BACKGROUND Bronchoscopic subcutaneous dilatational tracheostomy is fast becoming the method of choice for securing an airway in chronic ventilated patients in an intensive care setting. Many studies have demonstrated that it is a cost-effective and safe procedure in experienced hands. Complications appear to be equivalent to those encountered in open tracheostomy. Subcutaneous emphysema following tracheostomy is a rare occurrence. Only 3 cases have been described following percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. Management can be quite complex. METHODS Retrospective review with case report of a patient with massive subcutaneous emphysema following percutaneous tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS Massive subcutaneous emphysema following percutaneous tracheostomy is a major complication that is rarely encountered. When due to a posterior tracheal wall tear, management consists of bypassing the laceration and allowing it to heal secondarily.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011859	Radiography	Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film).	Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D012720	Severity of Illness Index	Levels within a diagnostic group which are established by various measurement criteria applied to the seriousness of a patient's disorder.	Illness Index Severities,Illness Index Severity
D013352	Subcutaneous Emphysema	Presence of air or gas in the subcutaneous tissues of the body.	Emphysema, Subcutaneous,Emphysemas, Subcutaneous,Subcutaneous Emphysemas
D014139	Tracheostomy	Surgical formation of an opening into the trachea through the neck, or the opening so created.	Tracheostomies