Pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 disease: Outcomes and relation to the Macklin effect.

AIM: Pneumomediastinum (PM) is associated with several etiologies and mechanisms. Although it has been described more than 100 years ago, the literature is limited to small retrospective studies. This study aimed to follow patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that developed PM during hospitalization and describe their clinical and radiological evolution. METHODS: A prospective cohort was developed with patients with PM, excluding those with aerodigestive trauma, inside a hospital COVID-19 dedicated hospital. Clinical variables including onset of symptoms, hemodynamic instability, associated complications, the need of interventions, and disease course were all recorded. Also, radiological findings such as the presence of the Macklin effect, extension of lung involvement by COVID-19, and characteristics of the PM were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients with non-traumatic PM were followed, resulting in an overall incidence of 0.5% during the study period. Seven (33%) patients had associated pneumothorax and malignant/tension PM was observed in three (14%) cases. The Macklin effect could be found in 11 patients (52%) and the majority of them had more than 50% of lung involvement due to COVID-19. The mortality rate was 49%; however, no deaths were directly related to the PM. CONCLUSIONS: PM incidence is probably increased in the severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by COVID-19, especially in those with greater involvement of the lungs, and the Macklin effect may be an important underlying mechanism of this complication. Usually, PM has a benign course, but complications like tension/malignant PM may occur requiring prompt detection and intervention.

Delayed Tension Symptomatic Pneumoperitoneum After POEM Requiring Needle Decompression.

INTRODUCTION: Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an effective modality for the management of achalasia. Tension pneumoperitoneum is a significant complication that causes hemodynamic instability, generally within the periprocedural period. METHODS: Here, we report 2 cases of delayed tension pneumoperitoneum that was recognized and treated several hours after uncomplicated POEM. RESULTS: These cases illustrate the importance of continued vigilance for this complication outside of the immediate periprocedural period as well as the utility of computed tomography-guided aspiration in managing it. DISCUSSION: When discharging patients after POEM, caregivers should be aware of this rare complication and alert patients to return for immediate care when it happens.

A 64-Year-Old Man With Rapidly Progressive Respiratory Failure and Pneumomediastinum.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old man presented for consideration for lung transplant. He had a history of previous tobacco use, OSA on CPAP therapy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. He worked as a design engineer. The patient had a 4-year history of dyspnea on exertion, followed with periodic CT scan of the chest. Nine months prior to his evaluation for lung transplant, the patient developed worsening of dyspnea, dry cough, poor appetite, and weight loss. At times, the cough was violent and associated with chest pressure. He was prescribed systemic corticosteroids and antibiotics without improvement. Four months later, the patient noted sudden onset of severe chest pain and worsening dyspnea. A CT scan of the chest demonstrated extensive pneumomediastinum in addition to changes consistent with pulmonary fibrosis. An esophagogram showed thickening of the distal esophagus, but no signs of perforation. He was prescribed supplemental oxygen and advised to stop the use of CPAP. The patient sought a second opinion. A CT scan of the chest showed improvement of the pneumomediastinum and extensive fibrotic lung disease. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were consistent with a restrictive pattern, decreased diffusing capacity (Dlco), and a preserved residual volume over total lung capacity ratio. The patient was prescribed systemic corticosteroids with no improvement of his symptoms. Repeat PFTs showed further decline of Dlco, and he was referred for lung transplant evaluation.

A comparative study of pneumomediastinums based on clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: Pneumomediastinum (PM) is the term which defines the presence of air in the mediastinum. PM has also been described as mediastinal emphysema. PM is divided into two subgroups called as Spontaneous PM (SPM) and Secondary PM (ScPM). METHODS: A retrospective comparative study of the PM diagnosed between February 2010 and July 2018 is presented. Forty patients were compared. Clinical data on patient history, physical characteristics, symptoms, findings of examinations, length of the hospital stay, treatments, clinical time course, recurrence and complications were investigated carefully. Patients with SPM, Traumatic PM (TPM) and Iatrogenic PM (IPM) were compared. RESULTS: SPM was identified in 14 patients (35%). In ScPM group, TPM was identified in 16 patients (40%), and IPM was identified in 10 patients (25%). On the SPM group, the most frequently reported symptoms were chest pain, dyspnea, subcutaneous emphysema and cough. CT was performed to all patients to confirm the diagnosis and to assess the possible findings. All patients prescribed prophylactic antibiotics to prevent mediastinitis. CONCLUSION: The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical differences and managements of PMs in trauma and non-trauma patients. The clinical spectrum of pneumomediastinum may vary from benign mediastinal emphysema to a fatal mediastinitis due to perforation of mediastinal structures. In most series, only the SPM was evaluated in many aspects, but there are fewer studies comparing the evaluation and management of traumatic and non-traumatic PMs. The patients with TPM who have limited trauma to the thorax and who do not have mediastinal organ injury in their imaging studies can be followed up and treated like SPM patients who do not have mediastinal organ injury, and both have good clinical course.

Case of chest pain in a young man.

A young man with a history of smoking presented with acute-onset chest pain after lifting weights. He also noticed a change in his voice, tightness in his neck and difficulty breathing. A chest radiograph showed soft tissue emphysema in the neck. A CT scan of the chest revealed moderate amount of pneumomediastinum tracking into the neck and down to the diaphragm. He was haemodynamically stable and had no hypoxia or dysphagia. He was monitored for 48 hours and discharged home after resolution of his symptoms. A chest radiograph repeated after 6 weeks was normal.

[Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: about 18 cases]. / Pneumomédiastin spontané: à propos de 18 cas.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is defined as the presence of air in the mediastinum in the absence of traumatic or iatrogenic cause. Diagnosis is based on chest X-ray. Other paraclinical examinations, such as chest tomodensitometry or bronchial or gastrointestinal endoscopy, are sometimes necessary. Outcome is most often favorable. We report 18 cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum whose data were collected in the Department of Respiratory Diseases at the Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca between 2006 and 2017. The study involved 13 men and 5 women, with an average age of 24 years. Clinical symptomatology was dominated by retrosternal chest pain. The circumstances of onset of pneumomediastinum were coughing spell in seven cases, asthma crisis in five cases, hookah consumption and iterative vomiting in two cases, childbirth and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of bacterial origin in one case. Outcome was favorable in all cases, with spontaneous resorption of the pneumomediastinum. No recurrence occurred after a minimum follow-up period of 3 years.

latrogenic Mediastinal Emphysema and Subcutaneous Emphysema Induced by Bronchoscopic Examination.

A 79-year-old man presented with fever of unknown origin with interstitial shadows in the bilateral lung fields. A bronchoscopic examination did not indicate any malignancy or specific interstitial disease. After the bronchoscopic examination, the patient gradually developed subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema. As the subcutaneous emphysema and mediastinal emphysema were mild, the patient was not administered any specific treatment. However, he eventually developed severe subcutaneous emphysema and mediastinal emphysema, and did not show any transient improvement. The patient underwent another bronchoscopic examination at another centre and a lacerated wound was detected. Thereafter, emergent operation was performed.

Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum in Non-Asthmatic Children with Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous emphysema can result from rupture of the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems, commonly occurring after trauma or surgery, as well as from rupture of alveoli as pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum with subcutaneous emphysema is rare in children without chest or neck trauma. Here, we report 2 cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. CASE REPORT: The first case is an 11-year-old boy who presented with neck pain after vigorous exercise. Radiography showed pneumomediastinum. The second case is a 15-year-old boy who presented with pleuritic chest pain and respiratory failure requiring intubation. We extensively investigated the possible causes of pneumomediastinum. Both patients had no history of trauma or asthma, and were diagnosed with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. They were discharged after conservative treatment, without complication. CONCLUSIONS: Early recognition and investigation of serious conditions should be promptly done in spontaneous pneumomediastinum patients. Conservative treatment, extensive investigations of predisposing factors, and treatment are important.

Pneumomediastinum in the neonate.

A pneumomediastinum is an air leak in which the free air is concentrated in the mediastinum. Although most neonatal pneumomediastinums do not require intervention, complications such as subsequent air leaks can arise. Proper radiologic identification, as well as an understanding of the anatomy and pathophysiology associated with a pneumomediastinum, are necessary for an accurate understanding and diagnosis. This article will review the interpretation of radiologic findings in a neonate with a pneumomediastinum.

Pneumoperitoneum complicated pneumomediastinum causing cardiovascular deterioration in a low-body-weight premature infant during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

Due to smaller incisions, fewer wound injuries, and a shorter time of recovery, laparoscopic procedures are becoming increasingly popular in pediatric surgery, but the safety of their application in low-body-weight or premature infants should be a major concern. Here we present a case report of a 3-month-old premature infant, who developed a sudden change of hemodynamic instability while undergoing a laparoscopic Nissen's fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflex disease. This was thought to result from an accidental passage of massive insufflation of carbon dioxide gas across the diaphragm, leading to pneumomediastinum.

Traumatismo maxilofacial asociado a neumomediastino y enfisema de cuello. Revisión de la literatura y fisiopatología / Maxillofacial trauma associated with pneumomediastinum and neck emphysema. Revision of literature and pathophysiology

La extensión de un enfi sema facial sin neumotórax, hacia el cuello o el mediastino, secundario a un traumatismo maxilofacial, es de baja frecuencia. En la literatura se encuentran pocos casos referidos y su presencia obliga a descartar la ruptura de vísceras cérvico-tóraco-abdominales. De un total de 744 pacientes con traumatismo facial ingresados en el Sanatorio del Norte de San Miguel de Tucumán, desde octubre de 1996 a septiembre de 2001, 57 pacientes presentaron enfi sema facial, 4 asociados a fractura de mandíbula, 3 a traumatismos faciales cerrados y 50 a fracturas faciales del tercio medio y superior (maxilar superior, senos paranasales, malar, órbita, arco cigomático y frontal). De estos últimos, 3 que tenían fractura del seno maxilar, cursaron con enfi sema de cuello y uno de ellos además con enfi sema mediastinal. Se relata la evolución clínica, diagnósticos diferenciales, conducta terapéutica y teorías de la diseminación del aire hacia el mediastino. Se realiza, además, una revisión bibliográfi ca

The extension of the facial emphysema without pneumothorax, toward neck or the mediastinum area, secondary to a traumatism maxillofacial, it is low frequency. In the literature they are few referred cases and their presence forces to discard viscera rupture of the neck, thorax or abdominal region. About a total of 744 patients with facial traumatism entered in the Sanatorium del Norte, of San Miguel of Tucumán, from October of 1996 to September of 2001, 57 patients presented facial emphysema, 4 associated to jaw fracture, 3 at closed facial traumatisms and 50 to facial fractures of the upper third of facial region (maxillary superior, paranasal sinus, orbit, zigomatic bone, zigomatic arch and frontal bone). Three patients had fracture of maxillary sinus and neck emphysema, one of them also developed pneumomediastinum. The clinical evolution is related, diff erential diagnoses, therapeutic and theories of the dissemination of the air toward the mediastinum. Bibliographical revision is preformed in this presentation

Neumomediastino secundario a efecto Macklin: presentación de caso / Pneumo-mediastinum secondary to Macklin effect: presentation of a case

El traumatismo torácico es un problema emergente de las grandes ciudades al aumentar los accidentes de tránsito. Se ha reportado neumomediastino hasta en 10 por ciento de los pacientes con contusión torácica, debiéndose este a lesiones traqueobronquiales en menos de 2 por ciento de los casos. A pesar de que la causa de enfisema mediastinal se desconoce en la mayoría de los pacientes, en muchos de ellos su etiología se puede deber al efecto Macklin. Esta presentación de caso trata sobre un paciente masculino de 40 años de edad con el antecedente de trauma complejo, presentando enfisema subcutáneo que afecta la cara anterior del tórax hasta los rebordes costales. En los estudios radiológicos se evidenció neumomediastino. Aunque la presencia del efecto Macklin representa un reto diagnóstico, una vez que este se ha establecido, el manejo debe basarse en el tratamiento de las lesiones asociadas. La presencia del efecto Macklin refleja el grado de severidad de la contusión torácica, por lo que estos pacientes deben ser monitorizados y manejados en el ambiente de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue reportar un caso de neumomediastino secundario a efecto Macklin, en un paciente con trauma cerrado de tórax, y revisar la fisiopatología de este mecanismo de fuga aérea.

The thoracic traumatism is an emergent problem from the big cities when increasing the traffic accidents. The pneumomediastinum it has been reported until 10 percent in patient with thoracic bruise, being due to Tracheobronchial lesions in less than 2 per cent of the cases. Although the cause of mediastinal emphysema is ignored in most of the patients, in many of them its etiologic could be by Macklin effect. This case tries on a 40 year-old masculine patient with the antecedent of complex trauma, presenting subcutaneous emphysema that affects the anterior part of the thorax until the ribs. In the radiological studies Neumomediastino is evidenced. Although the presence of the effect Macklin represents a challenge diagnosis, once this has settled down the handling it should be based on the treatment of the associate lesions. The presence of the Macklin effect show the degree of severity of the thoracic bruise, for these reason those patientes should be admited in ICU. The objective of this publication is to report a case of pneumomediastinum secundary to Macklin effect in a patient with closed trauma of thorax and take in considerations the fisiopatologic of this mechanism of air leak.

Negative-pressure pulmonary edema presented with concomitant spontaneous pneumomediastinum: Moore meets Macklin.

Negative-pressure pulmonary edema is an unusual complication mainly associated with general anesthesia. It is caused by excessive negative intrathoracic pressure following a deep inspiration against an acute airway obstruction. The resultant decreased intrathoracic pressure amplifies venous return to the right heart and increases pulmonary capillary wedge pressure that can be further amplified by massive sympathetic discharge due to hypoxia. The combination of increased venous return and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure favours the shift of fluid into the pulmonary interstitium with resultant pulmonary edema. Conversely, spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SP) results from alveolar rupture following an excessive positive intrathoracic pressure. The air leaks out of the alveoli and along the perivascular space toward the mediastinum. We experienced a case of negative pulmonary edema which presented in association with SP. Pneumomediastinum is probably caused by an excessive positive intrathoracic pressure for a subsequent expiration against a closed airway. In the present case, both complications resolved with conservative management.

Neumomediastino espontáneo: a propósito de un caso / Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: report of one case

Presentamos el caso de neumomediastino espontáneo en un hombre joven sin asociación a algún desencadenante o patología, que consulta por dolor cervical irradiado a región supraclavicular derecha y con examen físico compatible con enfisema cervical. La evaluación inicial incluyó estudio radiológico de cuello, columna cervical y tórax. La tomografía axial computada demostró un neumomediastino con extensión al cuello sin patología pulmonar subyacente, se complementó el estudio con esofagograma. La evolución del paciente fue satisfactoria y asintomática, como se describe en los casos reportados en la literatura internacional. Se discute la fisiopatología del neumomediastino.

We report a 22 years old male that consulted in the emergency room for a painful cervical mass that appeared spontaneously and grew rapidly. On physical examination cervical and supraclavicular subcutaneous emphysema was noted. Neck and chest CAT scan showed a pneumomediastinum in the absence of lung lesions. The condition subsided spontaneously in 24 hours and the patient remains asymptomatic.

Vomiting-induced pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema does not always indicate Boerhaave's syndrome: report of six cases.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon, self-limiting condition resulting from alveolar rupture in young adults. Because of the ambiguous presentation and the general lack of awareness of this condition, its diagnosis is often delayed, missed, or confused with spontaneous esophageal perforation. We report our experience of treating six patients who were referred to our unit with vomiting-induced pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, and an initial diagnosis of spontaneous esophageal perforation. Ultimately, we diagnosed spontaneous pneumomediastinum in all six patients, who recovered uneventfully without any surgical intervention. We review the literature with particular emphasis on differentiating spontaneous pneumomediastinum from spontaneous esophageal perforation.

Surgical indications for spontaneous pneumothorax in patients over 50 years of age.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is often required in cases of spontaneous pneumothorax. This situation can pose considerable difficulty with correct preoperative estimate of pulmonary function. Simple indications for surgery are mandatory, especially in aged patients. METHODS: To examine the indications and safety of surgery in patients over 50 years, 23 operations in 22 patients over a 6-year period from 1998 to 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. All 23 cases had a grade 2 or better performance status. In all cases, operations were performed with bullectomy or pneumonorrhaphy by a limited thoracotomy with videothoracoscopy in 5 cases. RESULTS: All patients recovered to the same performance status as before the onset of the pneumothoraces, with the exception of one who died, and changes between pre- and postoperative arterial oxygen or carbon dioxide tension were not significant. Lung-related postoperative complications, including 1 mortality (4%), occurred in three cases who required emergency operation because of massive air leaks with incomplete lung reexpansion, obvious mediastinal emphysema or severe subcutaneous emphysema. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical interventions may be safely performed when the patient's performance status is grade 2 or better, but care must be taken to avoid postoperative complications in preoperative conditions as massive air leaks with incomplete lung reexpansion, obvious mediastinal emphysema or severe subcutaneous emphysema.