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Subcutaneous emphysema

MedGen UID:
21365
•Concept ID:
C0038536
•
Pathologic Function
Synonyms: Emphysema, Subcutaneous; Emphysemas, Subcutaneous; Subcutaneous Emphysema; Subcutaneous Emphysemas
SNOMED CT: Soft tissue emphysema (11211003); Subcutaneous emphysema (3830001)
 
HPO: HP:6001021

Definition

Skin emphysema/Subcutaneous emphysema occurs when gas or air accumulates and seeps under the skin, where normally no gas should be present. While the presence of air in subcutaneous or mediastinal tissue is not dangerous in itself, prompt recognition of the underlying cause is essential. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVSubcutaneous emphysema

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Complications and treatment errors in nonsurgical periodontal therapy.
Graziani F, Tinto M, Orsolini C, Izzetti R, Tomasi C
Periodontol 2000 2023 Jun;92(1):21-61. Epub 2023 Jan 2 doi: 10.1111/prd.12478. PMID: 36591941
Management of Complications in Paraesophageal Hernia Repair.
Imai TA, Soukiasian HJ
Thorac Surg Clin 2019 Nov;29(4):351-358. Epub 2019 Aug 30 doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2019.07.009. PMID: 31564391
Subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema. Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.
Maunder RJ, Pierson DJ, Hudson LD
Arch Intern Med 1984 Jul;144(7):1447-53. PMID: 6375617

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Complications and treatment errors in nonsurgical periodontal therapy.
Graziani F, Tinto M, Orsolini C, Izzetti R, Tomasi C
Periodontol 2000 2023 Jun;92(1):21-61. Epub 2023 Jan 2 doi: 10.1111/prd.12478. PMID: 36591941
Subcutaneous emphysema--beyond the pneumoperitoneum.
Ott DE
JSLS 2014 Jan-Mar;18(1):1-7. doi: 10.4293/108680813X13693422520882. PMID: 24680136Free PMC Article
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum.
Murad AA
BMJ Case Rep 2011 Jun 30;2011 doi: 10.1136/bcr.12.2010.3655. PMID: 22693309Free PMC Article
Laryngeal trauma in sport.
Paluska SA, Lansford CD
Curr Sports Med Rep 2008 Feb;7(1):16-21. doi: 10.1097/01.CSMR.0000308673.53182.72. PMID: 18296939
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in children.
Chalumeau M, Le Clainche L, Sayeg N, Sannier N, Michel JL, Marianowski R, Jouvet P, Scheinmann P, de Blic J
Pediatr Pulmonol 2001 Jan;31(1):67-75. doi: 10.1002/1099-0496(200101)31:1<67::aid-ppul1009>3.0.co;2-j. PMID: 11180677

Diagnosis

Postpartum pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema.
Sagar D, Rogers TK, Adeni A
BMJ Case Rep 2018 May 18;2018 doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-224800. PMID: 29776942Free PMC Article
Crackling thigh.
Amendola L, Tugnoli G, Tigani D, Di Saverio S
ANZ J Surg 2017 Nov;87(11):E216-E217. Epub 2015 Apr 20 doi: 10.1111/ans.13111. PMID: 25900023
Subcutaneous emphysema.
Samlaska CP, Maggio KL
Adv Dermatol 1996;11:117-51; discussion 152. PMID: 8718476
Subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema. Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.
Maunder RJ, Pierson DJ, Hudson LD
Arch Intern Med 1984 Jul;144(7):1447-53. PMID: 6375617
Airway trauma.
Meislin HW, Iserson KV, Kaback KR, Kobernick M, Sanders AB, Seifert S
Emerg Med Clin North Am 1983 Aug;1(2):295-312. PMID: 6394290

Therapy

Postadenotonsillectomy Subcutaneous Emphysema.
Pannu JS, Brinkmeier J, Childers A, Costa DJ
Ear Nose Throat J 2021 Mar;100(3):NP152-NP153. Epub 2019 Sep 23 doi: 10.1177/0145561319872723. PMID: 31547712
Massive Subcutaneous Emphysema.
Pitukweerakul S, Pilla S
J Gen Intern Med 2016 Jun;31(6):700-1. Epub 2016 Feb 18 doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3581-2. PMID: 26892319Free PMC Article
Subcutaneous emphysema--beyond the pneumoperitoneum.
Ott DE
JSLS 2014 Jan-Mar;18(1):1-7. doi: 10.4293/108680813X13693422520882. PMID: 24680136Free PMC Article
Subcutaneous emphysema.
Chotirmall SH, Morgan RK
BMJ Case Rep 2014 Mar 18;2014 doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-201127. PMID: 24642172Free PMC Article
Laparoscopic entry techniques.
Ahmad G, O'Flynn H, Duffy JM, Phillips K, Watson A
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 Feb 15;(2):CD006583. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006583.pub3. PMID: 22336819

Prognosis

Pneumomediastinum: Experience with 87 Patients.
Magouliotis DE, Sgantzou I, Salemis NS, Rountas C, Samara A, Zotos PA, Athanasiou T, Spiliopoulos K
Acta Med Acad 2023 Aug;52(2):88-94. doi: 10.5644/ama2006-124.408. PMID: 37933505Free PMC Article
Ectopic air localizations after transanal procedures: A systematic literature review.
Balla A, Quaresima S, Paganini AM
Int J Surg 2018 Aug;56:167-173. Epub 2018 Jun 21 doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2018.05.743. PMID: 29936199
Pediatric Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum: Narrative Literature Review.
Gasser CR, Pellaton R, Rochat CP
Pediatr Emerg Care 2017 May;33(5):370-374. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000000625. PMID: 26855340
Laryngeal trauma in sport.
Paluska SA, Lansford CD
Curr Sports Med Rep 2008 Feb;7(1):16-21. doi: 10.1097/01.CSMR.0000308673.53182.72. PMID: 18296939
The surgical airway.
Granholm T, Farmer DL
Respir Care Clin N Am 2001 Mar;7(1):13-23. doi: 10.1016/s1078-5337(05)70020-4. PMID: 11584802

Clinical prediction guides

Postpartum pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema.
Sagar D, Rogers TK, Adeni A
BMJ Case Rep 2018 May 18;2018 doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-224800. PMID: 29776942Free PMC Article
Mephedrone inhalation causes pneumomediastinum.
Graham R, Bowen N, Singh J
BMJ Case Rep 2014 Mar 10;2014 doi: 10.1136/bcr-2014-203704. PMID: 24614784Free PMC Article
Management of sword-swallower injuries.
Moberly AC, Fritsch MH, Mosier KM
J Laryngol Otol 2011 Feb;125(2):217-9. Epub 2010 Oct 26 doi: 10.1017/S002221511000215X. PMID: 20974016
Laryngeal trauma in sport.
Paluska SA, Lansford CD
Curr Sports Med Rep 2008 Feb;7(1):16-21. doi: 10.1097/01.CSMR.0000308673.53182.72. PMID: 18296939
Spontaneous subcutaneous emphysema.
Hopkins RL, Hamre M, Davis SH, Bonis SL, Frieberg EM
Am J Emerg Med 1994 Jul;12(4):463-5. doi: 10.1016/0735-6757(94)90064-7. PMID: 8031436

Recent systematic reviews

Multidisciplinary management of tracheobronchial injury.
Boutros J, Marquette CH, Ichai C, Leroy S, Benzaquen J
Eur Respir Rev 2022 Mar 31;31(163) Epub 2022 Jan 25 doi: 10.1183/16000617.0126-2021. PMID: 35082126Free PMC Article
Ectopic air localizations after transanal procedures: A systematic literature review.
Balla A, Quaresima S, Paganini AM
Int J Surg 2018 Aug;56:167-173. Epub 2018 Jun 21 doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2018.05.743. PMID: 29936199
Laparoscopic entry techniques.
Ahmad G, Gent D, Henderson D, O'Flynn H, Phillips K, Watson A
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 Aug 31;8:CD006583. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006583.pub4. PMID: 26329306
Laparoscopic entry techniques.
Ahmad G, O'Flynn H, Duffy JM, Phillips K, Watson A
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 Feb 15;(2):CD006583. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006583.pub3. PMID: 22336819
Laparoscopic entry techniques.
Ahmad G, Duffy JM, Phillips K, Watson A
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008 Apr 16;(2):CD006583. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006583.pub2. PMID: 18425957

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