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| Definition: |
The presence of gas within the tissue beneath the skin.
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| Alternative Names: |
Crepitus; Subcutaneous air; Tissue emphysema
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| Considerations: |
Subcutaneous emphysema is a rare finding, and it is generally related to the inadvertent introduction of air into tissues (such as through a pneumothorax). It can also occur from the production of gas within a tissue by infection such as in gas gangrene. It can occur in the bowel wall from infection with Clostridia difficile -- as is seen in necrotizing enterocolitis in the newborn.
Subcutaneous emphysema can often be seen as a smooth bulging of the skin. Palpation, or feeling of the skin, produces an unusual crackling sensation as the gas is pushed through the tissue. |
| Home Care: |
| Consult your health care provider regarding home care. |
| Call your health care provider if: |
| (This symptom usually occurs late, after other severe symptoms would have already required attention by the health care provider.) |
| What to expect at your health care provider's office: |
The medical history will be obtained, and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting subcutaneous emphysema in detail may include:
- What other symptoms are also present?
Most of the conditions associated with subcutaneous emphysema are very severe and require hospitalization.
After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to note the disorder that caused subcutaneous emphysema in your personal medical record. |
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Review Date: 11/18/2001
Reviewed By: Boaz Rosenblat, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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