Postoperative unilateral facial oedema: a complication of acute flexion of the neck.

A case report describing a complication following the use of the sitting position and an extreme flexed position of the neck is presented. The patient developed unilateral oedema of the face, tongue and soft tissues of the mouth. The trachea was reintubated and the oedema subsided without treatment. The cause of the oedema is believed to be obstruction of the venous drainage of the head and neck.