Abstract

Extensive subcutaneous emphysema (SE) complicates between 1 and 6% of elective thoracic procedures. The management of SE is varied, and may include increasing the suction of chest tubes, placement of additional chest tubes, placement of subcutaneous drains and creation of releasing incisions. We present five patients with post-operative SE treated successfully with a subcutaneous infraclavicular incision and wound VAC therapy. A 5-cm incision was made 2 cm below the clavicle down and through the pectoralis major fascia. A VAC dressing was fitted to the wound and suction was applied to −125 mm Hg. Data were retrospectively collected and analyzed. VAC dressing was placed a median of 6 days after initial operation. All patients had improvement in symptoms and resolution of SE by VAC dressing therapy. Subcutaneous infraclavicular incision and VAC dressing placement is a viable treatment for patients with post-operative SE who fail conservative therapy.

Details

Title
Management of post-operative subcutaneous emphysema with the application of wound VAC therapy
Author
Minarich, Michael J 1 ; Henry, Leonard R 2 ; Hardy, Ashley 2 ; Urs von Holzen 3 

 Goshen Center for Cancer Care, Goshen, IN 46526, USA; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA 
 Goshen Center for Cancer Care, Goshen, IN 46526, USA; Indiana University School of Medicine South Bend, South Bend, IN 46617, USA 
 Goshen Center for Cancer Care, Goshen, IN 46526, USA; Indiana University School of Medicine South Bend, South Bend, IN 46617, USA; University of Basel, Basel 4031, Switzerland 
Publication year
2021
Publication date
Apr 2021
Publisher
Oxford University Press
e-ISSN
20428812
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3170796746
Copyright
Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.