Cervical Subcutaneous Emphysema Occured by Unexpected Difficult Endotracheal Intubation: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Subcutaneous emphysema is one of the rare complication of tracheal intubation and it's mechanism has been known as airleakage to subcutaneous tissue from the perforated site of larynx, trachea and esophagus by the trauma of laryngoscopic blade, stylet and endotracheal tube. We experienced a case of subcutaneous emphysema during unexpected difficult endotracheal intubation. At the initial laparoscopic examination, the patient's laryngeal view was grade IV of Cormack and Lehane's calssification. After several trial of the intubation, cervical subcutaneous emphysema developed by the trauma of laryngoscopic blade, stylet and endotracheal tube, even though failed to confirm the perforated site at postanesthesia one day.