Pneumomediastinum due to Venturi jet ventilation used during microlaryngeal surgery in a previously neck-irradiated patient

Serious complications secondary to Venturi jet ventilation used during micr olaryngoscopy are rare, but when they occur, they may pose a life-threateni ng emergency. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman, previously treated with 70 Gy of irradiation for a T1 laryngeal carcinoma, who developed pneu momediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema after the use of Venturi jet venti lation. Keeping in mind the histologic changes to the irradiated structures , we suggest more caution when using Venturi jet ventilation in patients wh o have recently undergone neck irradiation therapy.