Spontaneous pneumomediastinum

Discussion:

This is a young patient presented with acute shortness of breath and chest pain without any history of trauma or cough.

The imaging revealed free air in the mediastinum.

Hence it is a case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

She did not gave any history of asthma, drugs, vomiting or Valsalva maneuvers.

The symptoms were started after her morning exercise.

Subcutaneous emphysema was missing from the typical triad of thoracic pain, dyspnea and subcutaneous emphysema.

Severe coughing or breath holding during strenuous exercise can lead to rupture of alveoli due to raised internal pressure.

An echocardiography will be technically difficult in such patients due to shadowing created by mediastinal free air.

She was admitted and treated with observation, bed rest ,oxygen and analgesics.

Monitored for complications such as infection or tension pneumothorax.

    Create a new playlist
Loading...