PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sebastian Gagatek
AU  - Marta García Clemente
AU  - Nelson Fuentes Martínez
AU  - Herminia Buchelli Ramirez
AU  - Miguel Ariza Prota
AU  - Pere Casán Clará
TI  - Spontaneous pneumomediastinum; analysis of 23 cases
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P423
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P423.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P423.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - Introduction: Pneumomediastinum(PM) is an unfrequent disease, which characterize by the presence of air in the mediastinum. Aim: A review of all cases diagnosed of PM in the last 10 years in our hospital. To determine the clinical course and possible complications. Methods: A retrospective study from 2001 until 2012. Data was recollected from medical history using a standart form.Results: 34 patients, 24 males(70.6%) and 10 women(29,4%), of whom 17 had a smoking history. 23 cases(67,6%) were diagnosed of spontaneous PM and 11(32,4%) as secondary PM. The average age of spontaneous PM was 24,87±15,6 and 55,91±25,42 for secondary PM (p=0.002). We have analyzed 23 cases of spontaneous PM. The most frequent symptoms were: chest pain(74%), shortness of breath(47,8%), sore throat(26,1%), cough(21,7%), neck pain(21,7%) and hoarseness(26,1%). Subcutaneous emphysema have been observed in 18(78,3%) cases. No pneumothorax was observed. 22(96%) patients were admitted to the hospital, with an average length stay of 4.57+3 days. The diagnosis was held by chest X-ray in all cases and chest CT scan was performed in 13 (56,5%)patients. In 3 cases esophageal contrast media was supplied. The most prevalent concomitant disease was asthma, presented in 5(21,7%). Treatment was conservative in all cases: 21(91,3%) oxygen therapy, 20(87%) rest and analgesia 17(74%). No recurrence was observed, having all of them good clinical course. Conclusions: Spontaneous PM is a benign condition, which occur principally in young men and have an excellent response to the conservative treatment with no complications or recurrency. Therefore a follow up don't seem to be necessary and patients could be treated in an outpatient clinic.