Subcutaneous emphysema is a condition when there is air or gas under the skin tissue. Subcutaneous emphysema is most often found in the neck tissue or chest wall, although it does not rule out the possibility to occur in other body parts.
Subcutaneous emphysema is often characterized by subtle protrusions on the surface of the skin. When the doctor performs an examination through touching the surface of the skin, you will feel the sensation of crackling (like touching a plastic bag) that appears when air is pushed through the skin tissue.
Understanding the Causes of Subcutaneous Emphysema
Subcutaneous emphysema can be categorized as one of the rare health conditions. In contrast to pulmonary emphysema, subcutaneous emphysema is usually not related to smoking. Even so, there are several things that can contribute to subcutaneous emphysema, namely:
- The condition of a collapsed lung or pneumothorax (usually accompanied by broken ribs).
- Facial fracture.
- Tears in the bronchial airways, or esophagus (esophagus).
The above conditions may occur due to the following risk factors:
- Blunt force injury.
- Gunshot wounds.
- Stab wound.
- Injury while diving, or related to changes in air pressure (barotrauma).
- Use of drugs, such as sniffing cocaine.
- Excessive or forced vomiting.
- Whooping cough.
- Esophageal tissue damage, due to corrosive substances or chemical burns.
There are also risk factors related to medical procedures, such as:
- Endoscopy, which is an examination procedure using a camera tube that is inserted through the esophagus into the stomach, to the intestine.
- Bronchoscopy, which is an examination procedure using a camera tube to assess the condition of the respiratory tract.
- Endotracheal intubation, which is one of the emergency procedures, inserts a breathing tube through the throat.
How to treat subcutaneous emphysema
In treating subcutaneous emphysema depends on what is the cause. The cause of subcutaneous emphysema is generally a condition that is severe enough to be treated. Previously, the doctor or nurse would first measure and monitor one's vital signs. Starting from measuring temperature by temperature, measuring pulse, respiratory rate and blood pressure.
In further examination, the doctor may also recommend that you do chest and stomach X-rays, to detect the presence of air bubbles while assessing lung function.
If there is air trapped in the subcutaneous tissue that affects the surrounding soft tissue, it can cause compartment syndrome. For these conditions, special handling is needed to remove the air. Can be done by surgery in soft tissue and insert a small plastic tube or tube into the body as a drain or pathway to expel air from the soft tissue.
Subcutaneous emphysema is a rare condition. Consult a doctor to make sure your condition is caused by subcutaneous emphysema, especially if you have risk factors for subcutaneous emphysema. Then, the doctor will provide appropriate treatment to overcome the condition.
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