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Case Reports
. 2015 Jul-Sep;31(3):404-6.
doi: 10.4103/0970-9185.161682.

Subcutaneous emphysema: Unique presentation of a foreign body in the airway

Mahendra Kumar  1 , Arun Goyal  2 , Neelima Gupta  2 , Rajesh Singh Rautela  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Subcutaneous emphysema: Unique presentation of a foreign body in the airway

Mahendra Kumar et al. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Foreign body airway (FBA) is a common problem among the children. Variable presentation makes it difficult to diagnose a case of FBA, particularly, when no definite history of aspiration is available. Subcutaneous emphysema (SCE) and pneumomediastinum are rare presentations. We report a case of FBA who presented with SCE without any history of aspiration. A 3-year-old female child was admitted with respiratory distress, fever and SCE over the right side of chest, neck and face. Initially, she was diagnosed as a case of pneumonitis with barotrauma. X-ray of the chest revealed SCE with pneumomediastinum without pneumothorax. Diagnostic bronchoscopy with rigid ventilating bronchoscope was done under general anesthesia. A plastic foreign body with sharp projections embedded in the mucosa was detected and retrieved from right main bronchus. Postoperatively SCE regressed gradually.

Keywords: Foreign body airway; pneumomediastinum; respiratory distress; subcutaneous emphysema.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure1: X-ray chest showing subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and infiltrates in right lung middle zone
Figure 2
Figure 2
Foreign body retrieved from right main bronchus
Figure 3
Figure 3
X-ray chest after retrieval of foreign body showing no abnormality
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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