Orbital emphysema in COPD with bronchopleural fistula

Daya Upadhyay¹, Peter HS Sporn²

¹Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA; ²Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

Abstract: Orbital emphysema is usually a benign, self-limited condition. Intraorbital extension of the entrapped air in the absence of an orbital fracture is extremely rare. Although benign, a careful periodic monitoring of intraocular pressure, optic nerve examinations, and prompt management are warranted in order to prevent tension pneumoobitus secondary to increasing intraorbital pressure by the orbital air.

Keywords: COPD, orbital emphysema, tension pneumoorbitus