SUBCUTANEOUS EMPHYSEMA AFTER BICHECTOMY: A CASE REPORT

E. Siqueira Mendes¹, P. Santana Nunes¹ , M. Yuhie Sobrinho Kitaoka da Silva² , Iolanda Chagas Roy² , A. Scarano³ , S. A. Gehrke⁴ , G. Vicentis de Oliveira Fernandes⁵ , R.F. De Brito Resende²

¹ Faculty of Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
² Faculty of Dentistry, Universidade Iguaçu, Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil
³ Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
⁴ Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain
⁵ A.T. Still University – Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health, St. Louis, MO 63104, U.S.A.

Correspondence to:

Annals of Stomatology 2025 May-August 5(2): Ahead of Print
https://doi.org/10.69129/stomatol/2025v5iss2_6

Received: 2 March 2025 Accepted: 17 April 2025

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Abstract

This case report aims to report a clinical case of subcutaneous emphysema after a surgical procedure of bichectomy, which occurred in the postoperative period after the patient reported a severe sneeze. In addition, it is intended to clarify how to reach a correct diagnosis, its treatment, and how we can avoid such complications in the dental clinic. A Caucasian 22-year-old female patient was referred and attended the Dentistry Clinic in Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil, for a bichectomy, aiming to better harmonize her face. However, the patient returned around 4 hours after the surgical procedure, reporting increased volume after stuffing the nose and sneezing. On physical examination, the patient was diagnosed with subcutaneous emphysema and treated without further complications. The present case report used antibiotic therapy and daily follow-ups with the patient. She did not have pain complaints, infections, or involvement of adjacent fascial spaces. Her full recovery took place within 12 days. The professional must understand the risks involved in the surgery and, in case of a complication, know how to treat it to obtain the solution correctly.

Keywords: bichectomy, dentistry, intraoperative complications, Oral surgery, subcutaneous emphysema