Successful Surgical Treatment for Pharyngeal Perforation in a Patient with Aortic Valve Infectious Endocarditis / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Pharyngeal perforation is a rare but crucial complication of transesophageal echocardiography during cardiac surgery. We herein report the case of a 72-year-old man with infective endocarditis in the aortic valve, who had a poor performance status due to congestive heart failure and brain infarction. The echo probe of the transesophageal echocardiography was detected in the anterior mediastinum after median sternotomy. Pharyngeal repair after aortic valve replacement with bioprosthetic valve, following omental wrapping was performed simultaneously. The operative course was relatively good, and the patient moved to the general ward 32 days after the surgery.

Pharyngeal reperforation following incentive spirometry: A case report

Despite its widespread use, complication of incentive spirometry has been rarely reported. We report a case of pharyngeal reperforation following incentive spirometry. A 75-year-old female, had a history of long-term steroid use, entered the intensive care unit for maintenance of mechanical ventilation following surgical repair of a pharyngeal perforation. After ventilator weaning, incentive spirometry was implemented on postoperative day 4. Immediately after incentive spirometry use, patient's neck began to swell, and subcutaneous emphysema was palpated. Pharyngeal reperforation was suspected on neck computed tomography, and emergency surgery was performed. Surgery revealed a 3-cm long rupture from the hypopharynx to the esophagus. The causes were thought to be delayed wound healing due to long-term steroid use and a sudden increase in pharyngeal pressure due to incentive spirometry. In conclusion, particular attention should be paid when using incentive spirometry after head and neck surgery in patients with a history of long-term steroid use.

A Case of Pneumomediastinum and Parapneumonic Effusions Following Pharyngeal Perforation Caused by Shouting

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon disorder, and usually affects young men and has a benign course. Common triggers are asthma, the smoking of illicit drugs, the Valsalva maneuver, and respiratory infections. Most cases are usually due to alveolar rupture into the pulmonary interstitium caused by excess pressure. The air dissects to the hilum along the peribronchovascular sheaths and spreads into the mediastinum. However, pneumomediastinum following pharyngeal perforation is very rare, and has only been reported in relation to dental procedures, head and neck surgery, or trauma. We report a case of pneumomediastinum that developed in a 43-year-old patient with pharyngeal perforation after shouting. His course was complicated by mediastinitis and parapneumonic effusions.