Abstract
Pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of blunt traumatic injury and is thought to be due to the Macklin effect, a pathophysiologic process comprised of three steps: alveolar rupture secondary to blunt injury; air dissecting along bronchovascular sheaths; and spread of pulmonary interstitial edema into the mediastinal space. Pneumomediastinum is rarely associated with pneumoretroperitoneum. We present a case of a patient who suffered a cardiac arrest after a fall during a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, leading to pneumoretroperitoneum. This case highlights the complications that can arise from blunt trauma and how underlying lung pathology can worsen these complications.
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