Pneumomediastinum in Blunt Chest Trauma : A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Joint Authors
Nickel, Christian H.
Bingisser, Roland
Mansella, Gregory
Source
Case Reports in Emergency Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2014, Issue 2014 (31 Dec. 2014), pp.1-6, 6 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2014-07-08
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
6
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Blunt trauma is the most common mechanism of injury in patients with pneumomediastinum and may occur in up to 10% of patients with severe blunt thoracic and cervical trauma.
In this case report we present a 24-year-old man with pneumomediastinum due to blunt chest trauma after jumping from a bridge into a river.
He complained of persistent retrosternal pain with exacerbation during deep inspiration.
Physical examination showed only a slight tenderness of the sternum and the extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (e-FAST) was normal.
Pneumomediastinum was suspected by chest X-ray and confirmed by computed tomography, which showed a lung contusion as probable cause of the pneumomediastinum due to the “Mackling effect.” Sonographic findings consistent with pneumomediastinum, like the “air gap” sign, are helpful for quick bedside diagnosis, but the diagnostic criteria are not yet as well established as for pneumothorax.
This present case shows that despite minimal findings in physical examination and a normal e-FAST a pneumomediastinum is still possible in a patient with chest pain after blunt chest trauma.
Therefore, pneumomediastinum should always be considered to prevent missing major aerodigestive injuries, which can be associated with a high mortality rate.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Mansella, Gregory& Bingisser, Roland& Nickel, Christian H.. 2014. Pneumomediastinum in Blunt Chest Trauma : A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Case Reports in Emergency Medicine،Vol. 2014, no. 2014, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-490453
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Mansella, Gregory…[et al.]. Pneumomediastinum in Blunt Chest Trauma : A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Case Reports in Emergency Medicine No. 2014 (2014), pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-490453
American Medical Association (AMA)
Mansella, Gregory& Bingisser, Roland& Nickel, Christian H.. Pneumomediastinum in Blunt Chest Trauma : A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Case Reports in Emergency Medicine. 2014. Vol. 2014, no. 2014, pp.1-6.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-490453
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-490453