SUBCUTANEOUS EMPHYSEMA OF THE CERVIX - A COMPLICATION OF CONSTIPATION- A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

We report the case of a sixtyeight years old woman with chronic consti pation, admitted in the emergency unit for respiratory defficiency and cervical subcutaneous emphysema. Endoscopy of the supradiaphragmatic air and digestive tracts was normal. Acutisation of an abdominal syndr om required a laparotomy revealating a fissuration of the subperitonea l rectum on a fecal obstruction. This revelating complication may be e xplained by the topography of the cervico-thoraco-abdominal diffusion spaces.