A Rare Treatment Modality and its Unusual Complication: Pneumomediastinum and Subcutaneous Emphysema Following Argon Plasma Coagulation

Abstract

Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is an effective non-contact electrosurgery tool and the use of APC in interventional pulmonology is relatively recent. Successful endobronchial APC has been described in debulking malignant airway tumors, controlling hemoptysis, removing granulation tissue from stents or anastomoses, and treating various benign airway disorders. Main complications related to APC are pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, airway fire, and burned bronchoscope. These complications are reported in less than 1% of the all cases. This report describes a case of very rare complication of APC (concomitant pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema) following an attempt to relief airway obstruction caused by a lung malignancy.