Rare Association of Pneumomediastinum With Bilateral Pneumothorax

Cureus. 2020 Dec 15;12(12):e12091. doi: 10.7759/cureus.12091.

Abstract

Pneumomediastinum with bilateral pneumothorax is a clinical entity caused by infections, malignancy, or trauma, as in our case. Some patients present with pneumomediastinum secondary to trauma have esophageal, laryngeal, or tracheal injuries. A 16-year-old boy presented in the emergency department with complaints of shortness of breath and bruise on the chest after a history of the road traffic accident. Bilateral chest tube thoracotomy was done. Pneumomediastinum was suspected on X-ray chest and confirmed on computed tomography of the chest, which showed bilateral pneumothorax with pneumomediastinum. The patient was conservatively managed and discharged after 10 days.

Keywords: blunt thoracic trauma; pneumomediastinum; pneumothorax.

Publication types

  • Case Reports