Bilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum following total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection

Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol. 2008 Mar;1(1):49-51. doi: 10.3342/ceo.2008.1.1.49. Epub 2008 Mar 20.

Abstract

We describe a 60-year-old woman who developed extensive emphysema, bilateral pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum after total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection with sacrifice of a recurrent laryngeal nerve. In this report, we discuss the possisle etiology of those rare complications.

Keywords: Pneumothorax; Thyroid; Trachea.