Subcutaneous and Mediastinal Emphysema after a dental procedure: Two Case Reports

Subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema after head and neck procedures is a rare phenomenon; however, its incidence has increased alongside the development of instruments for medical procedures. We report two cases of subcutaneous emphysema and mediastinal emphysema after dental procedures. In case 1, the entry of air was a laceration in the oral floor and an emphysema developed from the submandibular space through the visceral space to anterior part of the superior mediastinum. In case 2, the entry was mandibular molar and an emphysema developed through the parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal space to posterior part of the superior mediastinum. Both patients were admitted for a few days and then discharged with conservative treatment. The development of emphysema after head and neck procedure is associated with the complex anatomy of head and neck fascia.