Subcutaneous Emphysema
February 15th, 2021
Overview
Look For
- Areas of hypo-opacification within the soft tissues surrounding the thorax / abdomen.
Example
- Subcutaneous emphysema within the soft tissues of the right shoulder and chest wall
![Subcutaneous emphysema within the soft tissues of the right shoulder and chest wall]()
Causes of Subcutaneous Emphysema
Respiratory
- Tracheal / major bronchial rupture - trauma, iatrogenic, spontaneous
- Alveolar rupture - asthma, airway foreign body, mechanical ventilation, coughing, vomiting, pneumonitis, emphysema, fibrosis
Gastrointestinal
- Oesophageal rupture - trauma, iatrogenic, spontaneous
- Hollow visceral perforation - GI trauma, perforated ulcer, iatrogenic
- Air trapping post abdominal surgery
- Peritoneal dialysis
Air from Externally
- Penetrating trauma
- Surgery
Other
- Facial / neck pathology - facial fracture, dental extraction, tracheostomy
- Infection with gas-producing organism
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