Spontaneous Retropharyngeal Emphysema: A Triage Twist

Spontaneous retropharyngeal emphysema (SRE) is a rare condition, occurring in the absence of trauma. Symptoms usually include acute-onset odynophagia and dyspnea. This is an interesting case of a young, healthy woman who presented to an emergency department with benign upper respiratory symptoms but took a drastic turn while in the waiting room after being triaged. The features and implications of SRE are discussed in this case, including emergent thoracic surgery consultation and additional testing.