[Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema after translaryngeal jet ventilation]

The use of emergency transtracheal jet ventilation in a 62 year-old female with laryngeal papillomatosis and respiratory distress is reported. Adequate ventilation of the lungs with an intermittent jet of oxygen under high pressure (5 bar) allowed anaesthesia and surgery to be carried out. Pathogenesis of the mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema discovered at the end of the procedure is discussed.