Silent Breathlessness: A Case and Brief Review of Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum.

Publication/Presentation Date

4-17-2019

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon diagnosis defined as the presence of free air in the mediastinum without an apparent cause. It is a self-limiting disorder that most often occurs in young males without any apparent precipitating factor or underlying disease process. Its pathophysiology involves the rupture of alveoli with resultant air penetration into the mediastinum. Underlying disease processes, such as asthma, physical trauma, including yelling, contact sports, and Valsalva during labor, have also been reported to cause spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Here, we present the case of an 18-year-old male who presented to us with the chief complaint of cough and the subsequent diagnosis of spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

Volume

11

Issue

4

First Page

4487

Last Page

4487

ISSN

2168-8184

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

31259105

Department(s)

Department of Medicine

Document Type

Article

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