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Tension pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema during retrieval of an ingested lithium button battery

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Abstract

We present a case of a child with an ingested lithium battery causing esophageal perforation with mediastinal injury extending to the pleural cavity. During the endoscopic retrieval of the battery, the child developed the rare complication of subcutaneous emphysema, tension pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum from excessive iatrogenic air insufflation. The patient developed mediastinitis and had a complicated postoperative course.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 1 Children’s Way, Slot 203, Little Rock, AR, 72202-3591, USA

    Tariq Parray, Saif M. Siddiqui, Melissa Hughes & Shailesh Shah

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  1. Tariq Parray
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  2. Saif M. Siddiqui
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  3. Melissa Hughes
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  4. Shailesh Shah
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Correspondence to Tariq Parray.

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Parray, T., Siddiqui, S.M., Hughes, M. et al. Tension pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema during retrieval of an ingested lithium button battery. J Anesth 24, 469–471 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-010-0908-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-010-0908-3

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