[Postoperative mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema after intubation narcosis]

The case of a 16-year old female is presented who underwent laparoscopy under general anaesthesia and uncomplicated endotracheal intubation. Four hours after uneventful anaesthesia and extubation the patient started vomiting and coughing. Subcutaneous tissue emphysema developed and pneumomediastinum was diagnosed on a chest roentgenogram. A small lesion in the posterior wall of the trachea and consequent upon intubation by indirect tracheoscopy was identified as the possible source of air entry on the third postoperative day. Air accumulation and tracheal lesion protractedly responded to antitussive and antibiotic medication. A tracheal lesion during intubation is the most frequent and thus the most probable cause of air accumulation presenting as pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax or subcutaneous emphysema. As in the present case, increased airway pressure from vomiting or coughing even after a latent period may induce the phenomenon. Very occasional reports on spontaneous pneumomediastinum in young individuals must not detract the circumstances of endotracheal intubation from suspecting an iatrogenic lesion, confirming it by immediate endoscopy and thereupon deciding on conservative or surgical treatment.