Pneumomediastinum

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Pneumomediastinum (from Greek pneuma - "air", also known as mediastinal emphysema) is pneumatosis (abnormal presence of air or other gas) in the mediastinum. First described in 1819 by René Laennec, the condition can result from physical trauma or other situations that lead to air escaping from the lungs, airways, or bowel into the chest cavity.

Video Pneumomediastinum

Signs and symptoms

The main symptom is usually severe central chest pain. Other symptoms include laboured breathing, voice distortion (as with helium) and subcutaneous emphysema, specifically affecting the face, neck, and chest. Pneumomediastinum can also be characterized by the shortness of breath that is typical of a respiratory system problem. It is often recognized on auscultation by a "crunching" sound timed with the cardiac cycle (Hamman's crunch). Pnemomediastinum may also present with symptoms mimicking cardiac tamponade as a result of the increased intrapulmonary pressure on venous flow to the heart.

Maps Pneumomediastinum

Cause

It is most commonly caused by:

• Oesophageal rupture, for example in Boerhaave syndrome
• Asthma or other conditions leading to alveolar rupture
• Bowel rupture, where air in the abdominal cavity tracts up into the chest.

It has also been associated with:

• Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
• obesity

It can be induced to assist thoracoscopic surgery. It can be caused by a pulmonary barotrauma resulting when a person moves to or from a higher pressure environment, such as when a SCUBA diver, a free-diver or an airplane passenger ascends or descends.

In rare cases, pneumomediastinum may also arise as a result of blunt chest trauma (e.g. car accidents, fights, over pressure of breathing apparatus), while still evolving in the same fashion as the spontaneous form.

Pneumomediastinum is most commonly seen in otherwise healthy young male patients and may not be prefaced by a relevant medical history of similar ailments.

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Diagnosis

Pneumomediastinum is uncommon and occurs when air leaks into the mediastinum. The diagnosis can be confirmed via chest X-ray showing a radiolucent outline around the heart and mediastinum or via CT scanning of the thorax.

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Treatment

The tissues in the mediastinum will slowly resorb the air in the cavity so most pneumomediastinums are treated conservatively. Breathing high flow oxygen will increase the absorption of the air. If the air is under pressure and compressing the heart, a needle may be inserted into the cavity, releasing the air. Surgery may be needed to repair the hole in the trachea, esophagus or bowel.

If there is lung collapse, it is imperative the affected individual lies on the side of the collapse, although painful, this allows full inflation of the unaffected lung.

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References

src: www.med-ed.virginia.edu

External links

• 00964 at CHORUS

• Pneumomediastinum Radiology from MedPix

Source of the article : Wikipedia