Emergent Treatment of Epidural Pneumatosis and Pneumomediastinum Developed Due to Tracheal Injury: A Case Report
Ali Kılıçgün1, Suat Gezer2, Tanzer Korkmaz3, Nurettin Kahramansoy4
1Department Of Thoracic Surgery, Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty Of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey
2Department Of Thoracic Surgery, Düzce University Faculty Of Medicine, Düzce, Turkey
3Department Of Emergency Medicine, Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty Of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey
4Department Of General Surgery, Abant İzzet Baysal University Faculty Of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey
Keywords: Emergency surgery, surgery; tracheal rupture.
Abstract
The presence of air in epidural space is called epidural pneumatosis. Epidural pneumatosis is a rarely encountered phenomenon in emergency medicine practice. A 10-year-old patient was admitted with cervical trauma due to a bicycle accident. Subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and epidural pneumatosis were detected. Pretracheal fasciotomy after tube thoracostomy and closed underwater drainage were performed. Since sufficient clinical improvement could not be observed, tracheal exploration and primary repairment were performed. Only after these interventions, epidural pneumatosis and pneumomediastinum completely regressed. The case is presented due to its rarity and with the purpose to remind clinicians of epidural pneumatosis in tracheal injuries.