Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: diagnostic and therapeutic interventions

The objective of this case series is to review our experience with spontaneous pneumomediastinum, review the available literature, and refine the current clinical approach to this uncommon condition. The case notes of all patients admitted to the George Washington University Medical Center with spon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cardiothoracic surgery 2008-11, Vol.3 (1), p.59-59, Article 59
Main Authors: Al-Mufarrej, Faisal, Badar, Jehangir, Gharagozloo, Farid, Tempesta, Barbara, Strother, Eric, Margolis, Marc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Antibiotics
Back Pain - etiology
Care and treatment
Chest Pain - etiology
Deglutition Disorders - etiology
Diagnosis
Dosage and administration
Dyspnea - etiology
Female
Fever - etiology
Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products - analysis
Health aspects
Humans
Leukocyte Count
Male
Mediastinal Emphysema - diagnosis
Mediastinal Emphysema - therapy
Nausea - etiology
Pneumomediastinum
Retrospective Studies
Risk factors
Subcutaneous Emphysema - etiology
X-rays
Young Adult
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Summary:The objective of this case series is to review our experience with spontaneous pneumomediastinum, review the available literature, and refine the current clinical approach to this uncommon condition. The case notes of all patients admitted to the George Washington University Medical Center with spontaneous pneumomediastinum from April 2005 to June 2008 were retrospectively reviewed, indentifying seventeen patients on whom various data was collected and analyzed. The typical patient is a young man. The commonest presenting complaint is chest pain. Odynophagia and subcutaneous emphysema are common. Leucocytosis is uncommon. The need for swallow studies, antibiotics, and prolonged hospitalization is uncommon. Most patients have no recurrences or sequelae on long-term follow-up. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon, self-limiting condition. Due to concerns for the integrity of the aero-digestive tract, the finding of spontaneous pneumomediastinum usually results in unnecessary radiological investigations, dietary restriction and antibiotic administration with prolonged hospitalization.
ISSN:1749-8090
1749-8090
DOI:10.1186/1749-8090-3-59