Abstract
BACKGROUND Mediastinal emphysema, also called pneumomediastinum, is a very infrequent condition in patients reporting to an Emergency Department. Mediastinal emphysema is the pathologic presence of free air enclosing the mediastinal structures. In the case of chest pain in a young healthy adult, pneumomediastinum as a differential diagnosis will undoubtedly be omitted. This would be especially likely if the symptoms are not preceded by an injury, intense vomiting, or an infection in this area. CASE REPORT We present a case in which a previously healthy 39-year-old woman experienced painless progressive face and neck swelling, dyspnea, and retrosternal pain several hours after a dental procedure. Physical examination revealed crackles on palpation of the skin on the right part of the face, neck, and chest. Neck and chest computed tomography confirmed subcutaneous neck and upper chest emphysema and pneumomediastinum. The patient was transferred to the thoracic surgery ward. After 2 days of prophylactic intravenous administration of antibiotics, she was discharged for further scheduled treatment at the Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic. CONCLUSIONS This report presented a rare case of a woman who reported to the Emergency Department with subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema following routine molar dental extraction. Emergency Department physicians should be aware of the possibility of delayed complications after standard dental procedures. A detailed medical history and clinical examination will enable making a correct diagnosis so as not to jeopardize the health of a patient, and in the case of the development of mediastinitis, even the patient's life.