A Case Report of Acute Airway Compromise due to Subcutaneous Emphysema

In the acute management of a trauma patient, airway patency is of utmost importance. The present case describes a male patient who presented with delayed severe upper airway obstruction secondary to massive subcutaneous emphysema following blunt traumatic injury two days previously. Airway compromis...

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Main Authors: David Olmstead, Gary Gelfand, Ian Anderson, John B. Kortbeek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3103061
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author David Olmstead
Gary Gelfand
Ian Anderson
John B. Kortbeek
author_facet David Olmstead
Gary Gelfand
Ian Anderson
John B. Kortbeek
author_sort David Olmstead
collection DOAJ
description In the acute management of a trauma patient, airway patency is of utmost importance. The present case describes a male patient who presented with delayed severe upper airway obstruction secondary to massive subcutaneous emphysema following blunt traumatic injury two days previously. Airway compromise is a rarely described but serious complication of subcutaneous emphysema. Current management of subcutaneous emphysema and its association with pneumothorax is summarized. Early decompression of underlying pneumothoraces in patients with significant subcutaneous emphysema should be performed to avoid this rare complication.
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spelling doaj-art-e0654454d2c24d2f8bba9db3a203886f2025-08-20T03:26:05ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352018-01-01201810.1155/2018/31030613103061A Case Report of Acute Airway Compromise due to Subcutaneous EmphysemaDavid Olmstead0Gary Gelfand1Ian Anderson2John B. Kortbeek3Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Department of Surgery, South Health Campus, 4448 Front St SE, Calgary, AB T3M1M4, CanadaCumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta Health Services, G33-1403 29 ST NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, CanadaCumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Department of Surgery, Foothills Medical Centre, Alberta Health Services, 1403 29th ST NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, CanadaCumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta Health Services, Department of Surgery, South Health Campus, 4448 Front St SE, Calgary, AB T3M1M4, CanadaIn the acute management of a trauma patient, airway patency is of utmost importance. The present case describes a male patient who presented with delayed severe upper airway obstruction secondary to massive subcutaneous emphysema following blunt traumatic injury two days previously. Airway compromise is a rarely described but serious complication of subcutaneous emphysema. Current management of subcutaneous emphysema and its association with pneumothorax is summarized. Early decompression of underlying pneumothoraces in patients with significant subcutaneous emphysema should be performed to avoid this rare complication.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3103061
spellingShingle David Olmstead
Gary Gelfand
Ian Anderson
John B. Kortbeek
A Case Report of Acute Airway Compromise due to Subcutaneous Emphysema
Case Reports in Medicine
title A Case Report of Acute Airway Compromise due to Subcutaneous Emphysema
title_full A Case Report of Acute Airway Compromise due to Subcutaneous Emphysema
title_fullStr A Case Report of Acute Airway Compromise due to Subcutaneous Emphysema
title_full_unstemmed A Case Report of Acute Airway Compromise due to Subcutaneous Emphysema
title_short A Case Report of Acute Airway Compromise due to Subcutaneous Emphysema
title_sort case report of acute airway compromise due to subcutaneous emphysema
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3103061
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