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Surgical emphysema following therapeutic colonoscopy
Jason Ramsingh1, Ahmad Ali2, Ahmed Al-Ani2
1Department of General Surgery, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock, UK ramsingh.jason@gmail.com.
Journal of Surgical Case Reports
|June 27, 2014
Summary
Colonoscopy can rarely cause cervical emphysema, a complication where air enters the neck. This case highlights a conservative management approach for this rare but important colonoscopy complication.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Endoscopy
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Colonoscopy is a vital diagnostic and therapeutic tool for colorectal conditions, including cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Therapeutic colonoscopy procedures like polypectomy and stricture dilation carry inherent risks.
- Colonic perforation is a rare but serious complication associated with colonoscopy.
Observation:
- A patient developed cervical emphysema after a therapeutic colonoscopy.
- The patient presented without typical symptoms of perforation such as abdominal or chest pain and shortness of breath.
- The cervical emphysema was managed conservatively.
Findings:
- Cervical emphysema can occur as an unusual presentation of colonoscopy-induced perforation.
- Absence of severe symptoms does not preclude the diagnosis of a perforation.
- Conservative management may be appropriate for select cases of post-colonoscopy cervical emphysema.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers must be aware of the varied presentations of colonoscopy complications.
- Prompt recognition and appropriate management are crucial for patient outcomes.
- This case underscores the importance of considering rare complications even in the absence of classic symptoms.
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