Neck Surgical Emphysema Post Bilateral Breast Implant Exchange Procedure

Breast reconstruction using implants is a common and well-established practice in plastic surgery. Some patients who undergo this method of reconstruction later request implant exchange, either due to complications or for cosmetic reasons. Repeated operations can be associated with an increased risk of complications. Although the focus is often on surgical complications, anesthetic complications should also be considered when treating such patients. Our case report describes a patient who underwent a bilateral breast implant exchange procedure for cosmetic reasons and presented on postoperative day 1 with a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and crepitus in the neck region. A clinical diagnosis of surgical emphysema was made and confirmed by radiological investigations. The patient was examined by an otorhinolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat surgeon), who confirmed the diagnosis, and was treated nonsurgically, showing significant improvement with complete resolution of the condition within a week. This is the first reported case of surgical emphysema in a patient undergoing bilateral breast implant surgery. As more older patients present requesting exchange procedures, surgeons undertaking these procedures need to be aware of both surgical and anesthetic complications associated with operating on older patients and take all precautionary measures to prevent these risks.