Cervical Subcutaneous Emphysema and Pneumomediastinum After Septorhinoplasty

Abstract

Cervical and facial subcutaneous emphysema is mainly caused by maxillofacial trauma or head and neck surgery. There are only 2 cases of subcutaneous emphysema after septorhinoplasty in the English literature. We report a case of subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum after a septorhinoplasty.A healthy 35-year-old man with nasal obstruction and dissatisfaction with the shape of his nose was referred to our outpatient clinic. The patient had a septorhinoplasty including bilateral medial and lateral osteotomy under general anesthesia. On the fifth day after the surgery, the patient visited the emergency department with swelling and pain in the right submandibular area and cheek. On computed tomographic (CT) scans, air was observed in the right temporal space, masticator space, submandibular space, and superior mediastinal space. He was immediately hospitalized for administration of intravenous antibiotics and bed rest.On the fifth day after the hospitalization, follow-up CT scans were performed. Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum were markedly decreased. The patient was discharged on the fifth day.