수면무호흡 환자에서의 외측 인두성형술 후 발생한 피하기종

Abstract

Lateral pharyngoplasty is a surgical option for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Here, we present a case involving a 40-year-old healthy man who underwent surgery, including lateral pharyngoplasty and robotic tongue base resection, for OSA. There were no intraoperative or immediate postoperative complications. However, on postoperative day 3, the patient presented with swelling in the temporal and buccal areas and was diagnosed with subcutaneous emphysema, later confirmed by computed tomography. The patient was carefully monitored under conservative care and discharged without complications. Although subcutaneous emphysema following tonsillectomy is a rare complication and usually resolves with conservative management, in certain cases, it might require surgical intervention. Lateral pharyngoplasty involves tonsillectomy and additional incision along the tonsillar fossa, which makes it susceptible to pharyngeal wall defects and, consequently, subcutaneous emphysema. Additionally, lateral pharyngoplasty and robotic tongue base resection cause pain and might thus contribute to the increase in intrapharyngeal pressure, which might aggravate subcutaneous emphysema. Lateral pharyngoplasty should be performed with meticulous dissection of the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. Healthcare providers should be aware of these complications and, upon suspicion of the same, place the patient under close observation to prevent life-threatening situations.