Journal of Clinical Case Reports Medical Images and Health Sciences

Cervical emphysema caused by Colonic perforation – A Case report by Márcia Carvalho  in Journal of Clinical Case Reports Medical Images and Health Sciences Abstract Introduction : Cervical subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum are often associated with traumatic events or surgical procedures. In rare situations, colonic perforations can manifest as pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous cervical emphysema. Case Report : We present a case of a 65-year-old woman presenting in the emergency department with abdominal pain, constipation during the previous week, and vomiting for the last 12 hours. Physical examination showed crepitation in the chest wall and signs of peritoneal irritation. Chest and abdominal radiographs only showed right cervical emphysema.  CT revealed subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum, with extra-luminal feces and retropneumoperitoneum. The patient underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy, which found fecaloid peritonitis and posterior colonic ...