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Published on: January 17, 2011
Cervicofacial and mediastinal emphysema after crown preparation: a rare complication
Wolfgang Zemann1, Matthias Feichtinger, Hans Kärcher
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria. wolfgang.zemann@meduni-graz.at
Abstract:
Cervicofacial emphysema is a well-known complication associated with the use of a high-speed air turbine. However, retropharyngeal emphysema or pneumomediastinum in the absence of severe trauma is rare. Immediate recognition of this phenomenon is essential to avoid life-threatening complications such as potential airway obstruction or venous air embolism. This article reports a case of gas diffusion into the mediastinum after dental preparatory treatment for a single-tooth crown. Pneumomediastinum should be considered whenever there are anamnestic data for retrosternal chest pain accompanied by dysphagia, dysphonia, or dyspnea caused by cervicofacial emphysema after dental treatment.
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