Surgical Blowhole Incision - An Unconventional Approach to Subcutaneous Emphysema Management Following Blunt Neck Trauma

Subcutaneous emphysema is the fortuitous entry of air into subcutaneous tissue. Its occurrence in the head, neck, and mediastinum is a result of trauma or surgery. This case describes a 45-year male who presented with massive progressive subcutaneous emphysema, spreading from the peri-orbital area to the upper mediastinum, secondary to tracheal injury following blunt trauma sustained two days before presentation. We present this case to emphasize on simple management and observation of minor laryngo-tracheal trauma which can prevent further unexpected complications. In this case, we used an unconventional approach of making blowhole incision which is not in routine practice. Key Words: Subcutaneous emphysema, Blowhole, Neck trauma.