[Subcutaneous emphysema as the initial manifestation of perforation of a hollow abdominal viscus]

Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 1990 Jul;78(1):38-40.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

The authors reports a case of cervical and abdominal subcutaneous emphysema, associated to pneumoretroperitoneum and pneumomediastinum, with no free air in the abdominal cavity, secondary to perforated diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon. We comment the rarity of this clinical presentation, the physiopathologic mechanisms of subcutaneous air presence in cases of non instrumental perforation of abdominal viscera and the ominous significance of the subcutaneous emphysema in such perforations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diverticulitis, Colonic / complications*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Perforation / complications*
  • Intestinal Perforation / diagnosis
  • Intestinal Perforation / surgery
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Emphysema / etiology
  • Retropneumoperitoneum / etiology
  • Sigmoid Diseases / complications*
  • Sigmoid Diseases / diagnosis
  • Sigmoid Diseases / surgery
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema / etiology*
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema / physiopathology
  • Surgical Wound Infection / etiology