Cervical pneumatocoele following total thyroidectomy.

Cervical pneumatocoele following thyroidectomy is rare. Urgent surgical intervention is necessary in the setting of widespread tissue emphysema and respiratory embarrassment. We describe a patient with a large pneumatocoele presenting six weeks after a total thyroidectomy who was managed successfully without surgical re-exploration. We also discuss the aetiology of cervical pneumatocoele as well as the potential indications for operative versus conservative management.