Subcutaneous emphysema after adenotonsillectomy in patient with Down syndrome: A rare case report and literature review

Introduction:Adenotonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedure in pediatrics., although is an almost safe procedure, but has complications such as bleeding, otalgia, odynophagia, dental trauma, nausea, and vomiting. One of the rarest complications is cervical subcutaneous emphysema. Subcutaneous emphysema also includes pneumomediastinum. Pneumomediastinum is caused by perforation of the bronchial system. If air leaks continue, due to continuous air leakage, subcutaneous emphysema occurs. This is a Down Syndrome patient report who presented with subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum after Adenotonsillectomy. Case presentation:A 15-years-old male, known case of Down syndrome, referred to otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic with few months’ history of severe snoring and difficulty breathing in sleep. The otorhinolaryngology department scheduled for adenotonsillectomy. 6 hours after surgery, the patient presented swelling of the submandibular area on both sides. Conclusion: Adenotonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure among children. Various studies have been published on the complications of surgery in patients with Down syndrome. ICU reservation is recommended before surgery to control possible complications. According to this, early diagnosis and appropriate care are necessary to prevent this condition.

کلیدواژه ها:

Tonsils ، Down syndrome ، Adenotonsillectomy ، Pneumomediastinum