Description

A 90-year-old man with a past medical history of hypertension, coronary artery disease and stage IV chronic kidney disease was referred from a nursing home for poor oral intake and weakness of one  week duration. Examination suggested diffuse crepitations on palpation of his chest, back and pelvic region. There was no recent history of surgical intervention, diagnostic instrumentation, fall or penetrating trauma. Physical examination showed an ulcer at the base of the scrotum of approximately 3×3 cm in dimension (figure 1A). Inspection showed healthy margins without any pus discharge or surrounding cellulitis. X-ray of the chest showed extensive chest wall subcutaneous emphysema (SE) predominantly involving the left lateral chest wall extending into the abdomen (figure 1B). CT of chest/abdomen/pelvis delineated extensive SE extending from the perineum up to the cervical region (figure 1C,D). Air track lines were appreciated along the subcutaneous tissues of the chest (figure 2A,B) and abdominal wall with the involvement of the perineum, surrounding the penis and bilateral testicles (figure 2C), the left pectoral and paraspinal musculature, neck up to the C7 level. A final diagnosis of extensive SE secondary to perianal ulcer was made.

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Figure 1

(A) Clinical image of perineum showing large ulcer. (B) Chest X-ray showing extensive subcutaneous emphysema on both sides. (C,D) CT transverse view of chest (C) and abdomen (D) showing air pockets in the chest and abdominal wall predominantly involving the left side.

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Figure 2

(A) CT skiagram confirming the extensive soft tissue gas collection from the perineum up to the cervical region. (B) CT chest sagittal view showing predominant involvement of the left side. (C) CT abdomen/pelvis sagittal view showing involvement of the perineum surrounding air pockets around the penis and bilateral testicles.

SE, as the name suggests, is situated under the skin and is easily appreciated on clinical examination on palpation. Crepitus is appreciated over the skin as a fine crackly feeling akin to ‘popping’ of several tiny bubbles.1 Common differentials include Boerhaave’s syndrome, alveolar rupture, necrotising fasciitis and communicating fistulas.2 3 Clinical diagnosis with physical examination is the most common modality of diagnosis. However, SE may also be visualised easily on imaging as collections of air densities within tissue structures. Investigating the patient for perforated bowel or a fulminant soft tissue infection would be of paramount importance as while SE itself remains generally benign, some of the causal aetiologies maybe life threatening requiring rapid intervention. Complications arising from compression of sensitive structures around an enlarging SE include compartment syndrome which requires urgent decompression. Rarely, injury to surrounding vascular structures may also result in an air embolism.4 5

Conservative management resulting in spontaneous resolution through reabsorption is generally the norm while approaching SE in the absence of acute complications. However, the involvement of structures such as the mediastinum or a resultant compartment syndrome may necessitate more aggressive approaches such as fine-needle aspiration, emergent mediastinotomy, surgical drains and sterile surgical ‘blowhole’ incisions that will allow for decompression. Negative pressure wound therapy may be combined with such interventions for severe cases. A final resort would be exploratory surgical decompression, although this is associated with increased mortality. In emergency room, in addition to clinical examination, imaging studies play a pivitol role in evaluation of disease extension in many similar situations.6 7