Tracheal necrosis with surgical emphysema following thyroidectomy
Tracheal necrosis after thyroidectomy is an extremely rare event with only a few published reports. We present a case of a 65-year-old male who developed rapidly progressive surgical emphysema of face and upper thorax on the seventh day following total thyroidectomy. Prompt surgical exploration of n...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2009-01-01
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Series: | Journal of Postgraduate Medicine |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.jpgmonline.com/article.asp?issn=0022-3859;year=2009;volume=55;issue=3;spage=193;epage=195;aulast=Chauhan |
Summary: | Tracheal necrosis after thyroidectomy is an extremely rare event with only a few published reports. We present a case of a 65-year-old male who developed rapidly progressive surgical emphysema of face and upper thorax on the seventh day following total thyroidectomy. Prompt surgical exploration of neck revealed a tracheal rent at the level of the second tracheal ring. This hole was then refashioned into a formal tracheostomy. Patient had an eventful recovery. Tracheostomy was closed by the 14<sup> th</sup> day. The complication was probably related to tracheal injury sustained due to electro-coagulation and subsequent secondary infection. |
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ISSN: | 0022-3859 0972-2823 |