Gross and microscopic features of extensive subcutaneous emphysema

Excerpt

A 77-year-old man presented to hospital with chronic obstructive airways disease and increasing shortness of breath. He was found to have a left-sided pneumothorax and underwent insertion of a chest drain with clinical improvement. Subcutaneous emphysema developed and a CT scan of his chest showed a persistent left-sided pneumothorax with positioning of the drain within the lung parenchyma. An attempt to replace the drain under CT guidance was unsuccessful and so 3 days after admission he underwent a thoracotomy with pleurodesis and re-insertion of the drain. Unfortunately his condition progressively deteriorated with death occurring 10 days after hospital admission. …