An unusual case of stridor after thyroidectomy.

Abstract

Twelve days after subtotal thyroidectomy, an air pocket developed in a patient's neck. The pressure in this pocket had gradually increased as small amounts of air, probably associated with coughing, came out of a tiny hole in the trachea to form a pneumocoele. This produced limited surgical emphysema, causing venous congestion and oedema of the soft tissues of the larynx, which in turn led to increasing airway obstruction. We believe that this is the first reported case of a pneumocoele that gradually increased in size, causing airway obstruction that was almost certainly due to secondary laryngeal oedema.