A client develops subcutaneous emphysema after the surgical creation of a tracheostomy. what assessment by the nurse most readily detects this complication?

There are choices for this question namely:

Palpating the neck or face

Evaluating the blood gases

Auscultating the lung fields

Reviewing the chest x-ray film

A patient with subcutaneous emphysema commonly presents with crepitations. Crepitations are described as "popping a bubble wrap" upon palpation of the neck and face. This corresponds to the escape of air from the airways (in this case, from the tracheostomy) to the subcutaneous tissue.