Abstract

Spontaneous pneumomediastium refers to the presence of air in the mediastinum without any obvious cause. It is an uncommon condition occurring due to alveolar rupture as a result of increased intrathoracic pressure. In this report, we present a case of Subcutaneous Emphysema and Spontaneous Pneumomediastium. Although there are several causes responsible for this condition, it is extremely rare to occur spontaneously with no prior trauma or Predisposing factors, especially in older age groups.

• 1.   Brown NF, Wong-Taylor LA, Beckles MA. Subcutaneous emphysema. BMJ. 2011;2:11-5.
• 2.   Newcomb AE, Clarke CP. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: a benign curiosity or a significant problem?. Chest. 2005;128(5):3298-302.
• 3.   Macklin MT, Macklin CC. Malignant interstitial emphysema of the lungs and mediastinum as an important occult complication in many respiratory diseases and other conditions: an interpretation of the clinical literature in the light of laboratory experiment. Medicine (Baltimore). 1944;23(4):281-358.
• 4.   Macia I, Moya J, Ramos R, et al. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: 41 cases. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2007;31(6):1110-4.
• 5.   Abolnik I, Lossos IS, Breuer R. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: a report of 25 cases. Chest. 1991;100(1):93-5.
• 6.   Koullias GJ, Korkolis DP, Wang XJ, Hammond GL. Current assessment and management of spontaneous pneumomediastinum: experience in 24 adult patients. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2004;25(5):852-5.
• 7.   Weissberg D, Weissberg D. Spontaneous mediastinal emphysema. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2004;26(5):885-8.
• 8.   Campillo-Soto A, Coll-Salinas A, Soria-Aledo V, Blanco-Barriob B, Flores-Pastora M, Candel-Arenasa M, et al. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: descriptive study of our experience with 36 cases [Article in Spanish]. Arch Bronconeumol. 2005;41(9):528-31.
• 9.   Ba-Ssalamah A, Schima W, Umek W, Herold CJ. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Eur Radiol. 1999;9(4):724-7.
• 10.   Kaneki T, Kubo K, Kawashima A, Koizumi T, Sekiguchi M, Sone S. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in 33 patients: yield of chest computed tomography for the diagnosis of the mild type. Respiration. 2000;67(4):408-11.
• 11.   Sakai M, Murayama S, Gibo M, Akamine T, Nagata O. Frequent cause of the Macklin effect in spontaneous pneumomediastinum: demonstration by multidetector row computed tomography. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2006;30(1):92-4.
• 12.   Freixinet J, García F, Rodríguez PM, Santana NB, Quintero CO, Hussein M. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum long-term followup. Respir Med. 2005;99(9):1160-3.
• 13.   Gerazounis M, Athanassiadi K, Kalantzi N, Moustardas M. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: a rare benign entity. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;126(3):774-6
• 14.   Rosinhas JFAM, Soares SMCB, Pereira ABM. Hamman’s syndrome. J Bras Pneumol. 2018;44(5):433.

Data Sharing Statement

Funding