Korean J Anesthesiol.  2010 Dec;59(Suppl):S242-S245. 10.4097/kjae.2010.59.S.S242.

Pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax after orthognathic surgery: A case report

• Kim T
• Kim JY
• Woo YC
• Park SG
• Baek CW
• Kang H

• KMID: 2237397
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2010.59.S.S242

Abstract

The occurrences of pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax after oral and/or maxillofacial surgery are rare, but both are potentially life-threatening complications. Most of the cases that present pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax in the oral and/or maxillofacial surgery result from air dissecting down the fascial planes of the neck. We report a case of a 23-year-old male patient who underwent bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy under general anesthesia and developed pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax without any traumatic introduction of air through the cervical fascia three days postoperatively. The possible causes and its prevention are discussed with a review of the relevant literature.

Keyword

Complication; Oral and maxillofacial surgery; Pneumomediastinum; Pneumothorax; Postoperative

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Fascia
Humans
Male
Mediastinal Emphysema
Neck
Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus
Pneumothorax
Surgery, Oral
Young Adult