Emphysema subcutaneous

Emphysema subcutaneous, which is a congestion of gas bubbles in the subcutaneous tissue and other tissues, is often a serious symptom indicative of the progression of gas phlegmon or gangrene. It occurs for several reasons. So it can arise due to the penetration of atmospheric gases into tissues, and also due to the accumulation of gases formed directly in tissues.

Penetration into the internal tissues of gases occurs most often from air cavities (with their injuries) and respiratory organs. In rare cases, the source of emphysema subcutaneous is the digestive tract (with its mechanical damage). It is also possible the emergence of emphysema with rupture of the stomach, due to pyloric stenosis. The ingress of air through the open wound of the skin is possible when it has a suction effect (most often - with external pneumothorax) or with a penetrating wound of large joints (most often - the knee). Atmospheric air, which got through the wound when inhaled (into the pleural cavity), during the bending (in the articular cavity of the knee) during exhalation is forced back, and during expansion, the air is partially released through the wound to the outside, although in part it penetrates into the surrounding tissues (most often - in the cellulose).

Emphysema subcutaneous can reach impressive sizes with valve external pneumothorax, in which the air expelled from the cavity of the pleura penetrates into the tissues. Small emphysema sometimes occurs in the area of the puncture hole and gunshot wounds inflicted by shots at the stop.

Emphysema subcutaneous has such symptoms: a diffuse swelling that does not accompany inflammatory skin changes, reminiscent of edema; Gas crepitation, revealed during palpation, resembling the crunch of snow; tympanitis. To determine the early degree of emphysema caused by gas formation in internal tissues, provoked by anaerobic infection, there are several special techniques. The most convincing results are obtained during the X-ray study.

Subcutaneous formations, even those of considerable size, often do not pose a serious danger, since they have a diagnostic value that indicates damage to a particular cavity or organ. They disappear spontaneously after the gas dissolves in the cellulose. Emphysema subcutaneously disappears, mainly in a few days, so it does not require medical measures, although you need to be fully confident that the emergence of an open wound of emphysema is not associated with anaerobic infection, with interstitial gas formation.

A serious danger arises when the emphysema of the chest wall rapidly shifts to the neck, as it can contribute to the development of the mediastinal syndrome. In this case, an urgent surgical intervention is needed to stop the injection of air into the internal tissues.

There are several varieties of subcutaneous emphysema:

- septic - occurs as a result of development of putrefactive or anaerobic infection;

- traumatic - occurs as a result of damage to the walls of the respiratory organs;

- universal - occurs as a result of penetration into the tissues of atmospheric air from damaged lungs and spreads to the entire surface of the body.

Subcutaneous emphysema, the treatment of which is made only in especially severe cases, practically does not pose a threat to the health of the patient, but nevertheless, when the size of this subcutaneous formation increases, immediately consult a physician.