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DAVID A. BREZNICK, MD; JOHN L. SAPORITO, MD
Long Branch, NJ

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1990;116(7):864.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

In Reply—Dr Berry's consideration is supported physiologically. Air cavities within the body tend to decrease in size and ultimately disappear. During air breathing, the transfer of gases from a

high partial pressure within cavities to a lower partial pressure in the blood forms the basis for the resorption of air spaces such as subcutaneous emphysema. 1Breathing 100% oxygen reduces the partial pressure of nitrogen in the blood, thereby increasing the gradient for the resorption of nitrogen from body cavities.²

This method of conservative management is appropriate for the majority of cases of uncomplicated interstitial emphysema. Our patient's ominous clinical situation necessitated rapid surgical intervention. In retrospect, the postoperative resolution of his interstitial emphysema may have been accelerated by this nitrogen washout technique. However, it was an allergic reaction to intravenous penicillin that resulted in his prolonged hospitalization. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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