ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: We report the case of a patient who presented with subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea and cough 7 days after total thyroidectomy for cancer. In addition we review the Literature and discuss the therapeutic challenges as well as management options. CASE REPORT: A 17-year old female patient underwent a total thyroidectomy with right cervical lymph adenectomy for papillar cancer. Lung metastases are present. On postoperative day 7 she presented with face and neck swelling due to subcutaneous emphysema, dyspnea and persistent cough. The radiological evaluation revealed a tear on the right antero-lateral wall of the trachea. The patient underwent surgical exploration of the neck which confirmed the tracheal rupture and showed an important tracheal necrosis all around the tear. Due to the impossibility to make primary closure of the trachea or a tracheal resection, the tear was repaired with muscular flap interposition, (around the trachea as a scarf ), using the contralateral clavicular part of sternocleidomastoid muscle and prethyroid muscles bilaterally. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient is alive 20 months after surgery and iodine induced adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSION: Delayed tracheal rupture should be suspected in all patients who present subcutaneous emphysema after thyroid surgery. The lesion should be promptly treated with primary closure or tracheal resection when possible. Muscular flap interposition could be a safe alternative option when the other procedures are contraindicated.
Subject(s)
Muscle, Skeletal/transplantation , Thyroidectomy/adverse effects , Trachea/pathology , Trachea/surgery , Adolescent , Bronchoscopy , Carcinoma, Papillary/radiotherapy , Carcinoma, Papillary/secondary , Carcinoma, Papillary/surgery , Cough/etiology , Dyspnea/etiology , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Lymph Node Excision , Mediastinal Emphysema/etiology , Neck Dissection , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Neoplasm Staging , Rupture , Subcutaneous Emphysema/etiology , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Thyroid Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Few cases of catamenial pneumothorax with complete or partial diaphragmatic hernias are reported in the literature. We present herein the case of a 38-year-old woman affected by recurrent right-sided spontaneous pneumothorax during menstrual periods. CT scan revealed normal lung parenchyma and multiple diaphragmatic nodes suspected for endometrial implants. The patient underwent right thoracoscopy and the presence of multiple diaphragmatic perforations of the tendinous part was observed as well as partial hepatic hernia. Through a video-assisted procedure, pleural biopsies and diaphragmatic plication containing the tendinous part with total pleural abrasion and talc pleurodesis were performed. No endometrial implants were found on histologic examination of pleural biopsies. The surgical procedure was uneventful and totally successful. On the basis of the clinical data and endoscopic view, we consider our case as catamenially recurring pneumothorax.
