Subcutaneous emphysema is defined by air becoming confined in the soft tissues beneath the skin and it may occur following various surgical procedures and specific penetrating trauma. While treatment is typically conservative and not required in most cases, massive subcutaneous emphysema may cause significant morbidity and sometimes life-threatening complications such as tension pneumomediastinum and respiratory compromise. Notably, no instances of self-inflicted air insufflation into the abdominal cavity have been reported in the literature. This report depicts a case of a self-inflicted air insufflation in a 40-year-old man via penetration of his umbilicus with a manual air compressor leading to widespread subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, and pneumothorax. The pathway of possible air movement between body cavities has been theorized, but excluding case reports and anecdotal evidence, treatment of severe subcutaneous emphysema is less clear. This case report intends to record this unique instance of extensive subcutaneous emphysema and to emphasize the necessity for more definitive guidelines in managing these patients.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
334 Leonard St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.