Tracheal necrosis with surgical emphysema following thyroidectomy

• Published in: Journal of postgraduate medicine Vol. 55; no. 3; pp. 193 - 195
• Main Authors: Chauhan, A, Ganguly, M, Saidha, N, Gulia, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Staff Society of Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India 01.07.2009; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Aged; Care and treatment; Case studies; Complications and side effects; Debridement - methods; Diagnosis; Diseases; Dissection; Emphysema, Pulmonary; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Metastasis; Necrosis; Necrosis - diagnosis; Necrosis - etiology; Necrosis - surgery; Ostomy; Patient outcomes; Postoperative period; Radiation therapy; Risk factors; Subcutaneous Emphysema - diagnosis; Subcutaneous Emphysema - etiology; Subcutaneous Emphysema - surgery; Suction - methods; Surgery; Surgical emphysema; Thyroid gland; Thyroid Neoplasms - surgery; Thyroidectomy; Thyroidectomy - adverse effects; Tomography; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Trachea; Trachea - pathology; Trachea - surgery; tracheal necrosis; Tracheostomy - methods; India
• ISSN: 0022-3859; 0972-2823
• DOI: 10.4103/0022-3859.57401

Tracheal necrosis after thyroidectomy is an extremely rare event with only a few published reports. We present a case of a 65-year-old male who developed rapidly progressive surgical emphysema of face and upper thorax on the seventh day following total thyroidectomy. Prompt surgical exploration of neck revealed a tracheal rent at the level of the second tracheal ring. This hole was then refashioned into a formal tracheostomy. Patient had an eventful recovery. Tracheostomy was closed by the 14 th day. The complication was probably related to tracheal injury sustained due to electro-coagulation and subsequent secondary infection.