Facial ecchymosis and periorbital oedema.

CASE HISTORY A previously healthy 21-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department a short time after being trapped while working under his car when the jack gave away. The patient remained under the vehicle, which was compressing his anterior chest, until the fellow workers were able to remove the victim after approximately 6 min. The patient arrived at hospital with stable vital signs and no loss of consciousness. A bilateral subconjunctival and periorbital haemorrhages, generalised facial and neck petechiae and ecchymosis, as well as a dusky cyanosis on the upper chest were noted (figure 1). Roentgenograms and CT of the head, thorax and abdomen showed no abnormalities. An ophthalmology examination revealed no visual or orbital defects.