[Macklin effect in pediatric spontaneous pneumomediastinum]. / Efecto Macklin en el neumomediastino espontáneo pediátrico.

Pneumomediastinum is defined as the presence of air in the mediastinum, and may be secondary to trauma or spontaneous. We present the case of a four-year old patient with a spontaneous pneumomediastinum secondary to a violent cough episode, presumably due to a simple cold. The presence of cervical pain, swelling and crepitus warned the pediatrician, who ordered the patient admission. Diagnosis was confirmed by chest and neck plane x-rays. The disorder had a short duration and favorable outcome with no specific treatment aside from symptomatic. CT scan performed at admission revealed an air migration through the perivasculobronchial sheath towards the mediastinum, the so-called "Macklin effect". This is the first description of this entity in pediatrics.