Dive Illnesses and Treatments Practice Test 2026 - Free Diving Health Practice Questions and Study Guide

Subcutaneous emphysema is air that has leaked into the tissues from the lung or airways. The air itself isn’t the problem to treat with antibiotics or surgery; the goal is to find and fix the source of the leak and to support the patient until the air reabsorbs. The same approach is used for mediastinal emphysema: assess stability, identify any underlying cause such as a pneumothorax or airway injury, treat that cause, and provide supportive care. High-flow oxygen can help speed reabsorption of the free air, and intervention (like a chest tube) is reserved for cases with a significant pneumothorax or other complications. So, subcutaneous emphysema is managed by addressing the underlying leak and monitoring, just like mediastinal emphysema.