Death following a Massive Subcutaneous Emphysema

Abstract

Subcutaneous emphysema is a relatively common finding in clinical practice. It rarely leads to fatalities. The few reported deaths in the literature have all been associated with pneumothorax. We present the case of a 61-year male who developed a fatal massive subcutaneous emphysema on a background of end stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Type 2 respiratory failure. This case highlights the fact that subcutaneous emphysema can be fatal even in the absence of a pneumothorax.