subcutaneous emphysema/tracheal tear

RE: subcutaneous emphysema/tracheal tear

gobears — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 07:35:36 GMT

I'm going to take it, by the lack of replies, that no one else has ever heard of this either. I thought it was curious that the ER doctor seemed to indicate it's a common thing in swimmers (even Googling doesn't bring up competitive swimming - one link on a synchronized swimmer). The child is doing well but having to stay in the hospital at least a couple more days.

RE: subcutaneous emphysema/tracheal tear

gobears — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:42:03 GMT

Thanks, Pendaluft. I think this child had some bronchitis at some point recently - wonder if that made a difference. Anyway, I just thought it was strange that the ER person mentioned swimming being a common cause... I'm not alone!

RE: subcutaneous emphysema/tracheal tear

pendaluft — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:03:15 GMT

Subcutaneous emphysema -- air under the skin -- does happen during severe asthma exacerbations with some decent frequency. It usually represents the condition known as pneumomediastinum and is usually not, surprisingly, much to worry about. Usually a little bubble on the lung has popped and the air gets reabsorbed and its all pretty fine. Sub Q air can also be a manifestation of esophageal or tracheal injury. Both are much more serious and much rarer. I have never seen a tracheal tear or anything like it from an activity like swimming -- usually trauma or surgery is the cause -- and Pubmed lists nothing like it. I am a pediatric pulmonologist so its pretty reasonable to think I would have bumped into it by now.