Abstract

ARCHILA - DIAZ, Jessica Natalia; WALTEROS - CARDENAS, Jenifer  and  MORA - BAUTISTA, Víctor Manuel. Idiopathic spontaneous pneumomediastinum. First colombian pediatric case. Medicas UIS [online]. 2019, vol.32, n.2, pp.47-52.  Epub Aug 30, 2019. ISSN 0121-0319.  https://doi.org/10.18273/revmed.v32n2-2019006.

Idiopathic spontaneous pneumomediastinum is the presence of air in the mediastinum, without any apparent cause, it was described in 1939 by Dr. Hamman. It is attributed to a dynamic escape of air from the alveoli through the pulmonary interstice of young people (Macklin effect). The clinical symptoms are not specific, but acute retrosternal chest pain and cough are the most indicative symptoms; the most specific signs are precordial crepitus (Hamman’s sign) and subcutaneous emphysema. The chest X-ray is enough for the diagnosis; however, other imaging techniques are used to evaluate secondary causes. The treatment is rest, analgesics and, optionally, supplemental oxygen. There is presented the case of a school-age child with spontaneous pneumomediastinum without any identifiable trigger, being the first reported Colombian pediatric case of this variant. MÉD.UIS.2019;32(2):47-52

Keywords : Pneumomediastinum; Chest pain; Subcutaneous emphysema..

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )