Publicado

2017-07-01

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Case report

Neumomediastino espontaneo. reporte de caso

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/cr.v3n2.60485

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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Cómo citar

Sierra Umaña, S. F., Garcés Arias, A., Rodríguez Gutiérrez, A. F., López Donato, D. F., Patiño Unibio, L. F., Velásquez Gaviria, L. M., Salazar Franco, L., Salinas Mendoza, S., Sáenz Pérez, L. D., & Castillo Rodríguez, C. A. (2017). Neumomediastino espontaneo. reporte de caso. Case Reports, 3(2), 91-97. https://doi.org/10.15446/cr.v3n2.60485