PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - I Hunt AU - F Van Gelderen AU - R Irwin TI - Subcutaneous emphysema of the neck and colonic perforation AID - 10.1136/emj.19.5.465 DP - 2002 Sep 01 TA - Emergency Medicine Journal PG - 465--465 VI - 19 IP - 5 4099 - http://emj.bmj.com/content/19/5/465.short 4100 - http://emj.bmj.com/content/19/5/465.full SO - Emerg Med J2002 Sep 01; 19 AB - Subcutaneous emphysema may result from pathological changes in the thorax or lung, as a result of localised infection with gas producing organisms, after abdominal procedures, or herald an intestinal perforation. The location and spread of extraperitoneal gas is determined by the anatomical barriers and fixed fascial layers surrounding the region of pathological change. The case highlights the extent of extraperitoneal gas after colonic perforation despite minimal clinical features and the importance of intra-abdominal causes of cervical subcutaneous emphysema.