What is air emphysema dental?
Subcutaneous facial emphysema (SFE) is a less frequently encountered complication of dental treatment where penetration of air into the subcutaneous tissues and fascial planes results in distension of the overlying skin.
How is emphysema treated in the face?
It is important to differentiate subcutaneous emphysema between other similar conditions such as hematoma formation, allergic reactions, angioedema or facial swelling due to dental infection. Treatment usually consists of a course of antibiotics and a wait and see approach for the swelling to decrease.
How is subcutaneous emphysema treated?
Several methods have been described in the literature for the treatment of extensive subcutaneous emphysema, including: emergency tracheostomy, multisite subcutaneous drainage, infraclavicular “blow holes” incisions and subcutaneous drains or simply increasing suction on an in situ chest drain.
Does subcutaneous emphysema go away?
Some of the tests used to diagnose the condition include X-rays, CT scans, or bronchoscopy. In most cases, subcutaneous emphysema will resolve on its own in around 10 days once the underlying cause is treated.
What is the prevention of emphysema?
Prevention. To prevent emphysema, don’t smoke and avoid breathing secondhand smoke. Wear a mask to protect your lungs if you work with chemical fumes or dust.
What is facial subcutaneous emphysema?
Facial subcutaneous emphysema is a rare condition, which arises when air is trapped underneath the facial skin, leading to swelling and crepitus on palpation and the potential for air to spread along fascial planes.
How do you get rid of air bubbles under your skin?
Small cuts, or “blow holes”, may be made in the skin to release the gas. When subcutaneous emphysema occurs due to pneumothorax, a chest tube is frequently used to control the latter; this eliminates the source of the air entering the subcutaneous space.
What happens if you get air under your skin?
subcutaneous emphysema, disorder in which bubbles of air become trapped under the skin. The condition can occur after surgery or traumatic accidents and can also develop locally in cases of gas gangrene. One of the frequent causes of subcutaneous emphysema is rupture of the lung tissue.
Can emphysema be reversed?
Both chronic bronchitis and emphysema belong to a group of lung diseases known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Once it develops, emphysema can’t be reversed. This is why not smoking or stopping smoking is very important.
Is subcutaneous emphysema related to dental treatment?
Subcutaneous emphysema is the condition in which air or other gases penetrate the skin and submucosa causing soft-tissue distention. This type of emphysema may be traumatic, iatrogenic or may occur spontaneously. This report describes the youngest case of subcutaneous emphysema related to dental treatment that has been documented to date.
Can a dental procedure cause emphysema in the elderly?
We report the case of an elderly female patient who presented with dangerous space emphysema occurring after a dental procedure. This case presented a diagnostic and management dilemma because of the development of an unusual complication of dental disease.
How can subcutaneous emphysema be prevented?
Another step toward preventing subcutaneous emphysemas is to ensure the patient’s periodontal condition is optimal. With chronic inflammation, deep periodontal pockets form and the junctional epithelium starts to loosen from the gingival sulcus.
What is subcutaneous air emphysema?
Subcutaneous air emphysema is a rare occurrence in dentist- ry characterized by a rapid swelling in the facial region. Although it usually resolves itself spontaneously and completely in approx- imately ten days, it can be a potentially life-threatening event.