Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum &amp;ndash; a Rare Asthma Complication

Serghei Covantev,Rasul Uzdenov,Alexandru Corlateanu,Natalia Mazuruc

doi:10.3897/folmed.61.e39419

Abstract

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease worldwide and its prevalence is increasing. Acute asthma complications are often the reason for admission to emergency healthcare service. In our article we present a case of a rare asthma complication – spontaneous pneumomediastinum with a short review of its incidence, etiology, diagnosis and management. Spontaneus pneumothorax is important to differentiate with secondary pneumomediastinum as well as other conditions as cardiac diseases (acute coronary syndrome, pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, pneumopericardium), lung diseases (pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, tracheobronchial tree rupture), musculoskeletal disorders, and diseases of the esophagus (rupture and perforation o the esophagus). A chest X-ray is often reliable for diagnosis of spontaneous pneumomediastinum and when inconclusive, can be followed by CT. The management is usually conservative with oxygen and analgesia. Surgery is required only in cases of tracheobronchial compression.

Highlights

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease worldwide and its prevalence is increasing.[1]
The pneumomediastinum is an abnormal presence of air or other gas) in the mediastinum. It was originally described by Rene Laennec in 1819.3,4 The term spontaneous was introduced by Hamman later in 1939.5 The condition can result from an injury that leads to air leakage into the mediastinum from the lungs
The term spontaneous indicates that it is encountered in patients with underlying lung diseases or without any medically relevant conditions as compared to that secondary pneumothorax that results from trauma

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease worldwide and its prevalence is increasing.[1]. The pneumomediastinum ( known as mediastinal emphysema) is an abnormal presence of air or other gas) in the mediastinum It was originally described by Rene Laennec in 1819.3,4 The term spontaneous was introduced by Hamman later in 1939.5 The condition can result from an injury that leads to air leakage into the mediastinum from the lungs. The term spontaneous indicates that it is encountered in patients with underlying lung diseases or without any medically relevant conditions as compared to that secondary pneumothorax that results from trauma. The incidence of this condition is 1:320 patients in thoracic surgical departments.[6].

A Case of Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum

Findings

CONCLUSION