Abstract
Subcutaneous emphysema, the presence of air in the subcutaneous layer of the skin, is a possible result of surgical, infectious, or spontaneous etiologies. Although usually self-limiting, the development of subcutaneous emphysema in the perioperative period has been associated with delayed extubation and the development of complications such as pneumomediastinum, pneumoperitoneum, and pneumothoraxand can worsen clinical outcomes in these patients. Here, we report the case of a 57-year-old male patient who presented to the operating room (OR) for a robotic total colectomy due to Lynch syndrome. The procedure was complicated by the development of diffuse, severe subcutaneous emphysema, which was recognized by palpable crepitus and obscuration of anatomical landmarks during an attempted transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for pain control prior to patient extubation. The decision was made to leave the patient intubated and managed postoperatively in the ICU, where radiographic and computerized tomography (CT) scans confirmed the severity of subcutaneous emphysema. Hemodynamic and respiratory status were managed in the ICU and on postoperative day 3 the patient passed an endotracheal cuff leak test and was extubated. The patient was transferred to a surgical step-down on postoperative day 7 and following the resolution of ileus and acute kidney injury (AKI), he was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 17.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.