Subcutaneous emphysema

Subcutaneous emphysema is most often associated with thoracic pathology. The case is presented of a middle-aged woman with shock, abdominal distention and rigidity, and subcutaneous emphysema which resulted from a spontaneous gastric rupture. Subcutaneous emphysema has a variety of origins, including infections and rents in the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and the skin.