Abstract
This paper reports a case of systemic emphysema associated with the use of the Esophageal-tracheal Combitube (ETC) during pre-hospital management of cardiac arrest. A 53-year-old female lost consciousness after serious hematemesis. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started and the ETC was inserted by emergency life saving technicians. About 55 minutes after arrival at the emergency room, the patient was declared dead. Computed tomography demonstrated the presence of air in the subcutaneous tissues, mediastinum, thorax, abdomen, hepatic vein, inferior vena cava and right ventricle. An autopsy was not performed, and the source of air leak could not be identified. However, computed tomography revealed that tracheal laceration had caused the air leak to the surrounding tissues. The systemic emphysema and tracheal laceration would not be main factors in the death of the patient presented here. However, the possibility of these complications should be kept in mind.
