Publicado

2017-07-01

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Case report

Neumomediastino espontaneo. reporte de caso

Palabras clave:

Medial emphysema, Subcutaneous emphysema (en)
Enfisema mediastiníco, Enfisema subcutáneo (es)

Autores/as

  • Sebastian Felipe Sierra Umaña Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Andrés Garcés Arias Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Andrés Fernando Rodríguez Gutiérrez Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Diego Fernando López Donato Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Luisa Fernanda Patiño Unibio Pontificia Universidad Javeriana - Bogotá - Colombia.
  • Laura Marcela Velásquez Gaviria Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Laura Salazar Franco Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Sebastián Salinas Mendoza Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Luis David Sáenz Pérez Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  • Cristian Alejandro Castillo Rodríguez Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Introduction: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is defined as the presence of air in the mediastinum. It is a rare entity considered benign and self-limiting, which mostly affects young adults. Its diagnosis is confirmed through clinical and radiological studies.

Case description: 21-year-old male patient with cough and greenish expectoration for four days, associated with dyspnea, chest pain, fever and bilateral supraclavicular subcutaneous emphysema. Chest X-ray suggested pneumomediastinum, which was confirmed by tomography. The patient was hospitalized for observation and treatment. After a positive evolution, he was discharged on the sixth day.

Discussion: SPM is a differential diagnosis in patients with chest pain and dyspnea. Its prevalence is lower than 0.01% and its mortality rate is low. It should be suspected in patients with chest pain and subcutaneous emphysema on physical examination. Between 70 and 90% of the cases can be identified by chest X-ray, while confirmation can be obtained through chest tomography. In most cases it does not require additional studies.

Conclusion: SPM is a little known cause of acute chest pain, and rarely considered as a differential diagnosis; it is self-limited and has a good prognosis.

Introducción: se define neumomediastino espontáneo (NE) a la presencia de aire en el intersticio mediastinal. Es una entidad rara, considerada benigna y autolimitada que afecta, en la mayoría de los casos, a adultos jóvenes. Su diagnóstico es clínico y radiológico.

Descripción del caso: hombre de 21 años de edad con tos y expectoración verdosa de cuatro días, síntomas asociados a disnea, dolor torácico, fiebre y enfisema subcutáneo supraclavicular bilateral. La radiografía tórax sugirió neumomediastino, el cual fue confirmado por tomografía. El paciente fue hospitalizado para observación y tratamiento. Luego de una evolución positiva, fue dado de alta al sexto día.

Discusión: el NE es un diagnóstico diferencial en pacientes que consultan por dolor torácico y disnea. Su prevalencia es inferior a 0.01% y su mortalidad es baja. Debe sospecharse en pacientes con dolor torácico y enfisema subcutáneo al examen físico. Entre 70 y 90% de los casos pueden identificarse mediante radiografía de tórax, mientras que su confirmación puede obtenerse a través de tomografía de tórax. En la mayoría de casos no requiere estudios adicionales.

Conclusión: el NE es una causa poco conocida de dolor torácico agudo, rara vez se tiene en cuenta como diagnóstico diferencial; es auto limitado y tiene buen pronóstico.

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Citas

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