Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Ecstasy-associated pneumomediastinum.

Silvana F Marasco1, H Kiat Lim

  • 1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Alfred Hospital, Prahran 3181, Victoria, Australia. s.marasco@alfred.org.au

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
|May 31, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects of Transradial Catheterisation on Radial Artery Bypass Graft Patency: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Heart, lung & circulation·2026
Same author

Demographics, treatment, and outcomes of rib fractures in older adults: a retrospective multi-institutional study.

European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society·2025
Same author

Radial Artery Conduit Use After Transradial Catheterisation.

Heart, lung & circulation·2025
Same author

Outcomes of Septal Myectomy Associated With Surgical Volume.

Heart, lung & circulation·2025
Same author

A Prospective double-blind, randomised controlled trial comparing angiotensin II to norepinephrine to reduce length of hospital stay in cardiac surgery patients (the PORTHOS study protocol).

BMJ open·2025
Same author

Scoring Systems in Rib Fracture Care.

Current problems in surgery·2024
Same journal

This story shall the good [surgeon] teach.

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·2026
Same journal

Frailty: new horizons in older patients needing surgery.

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·2026
Same journal

Frailty in emergency surgery: expanding the role of biomarkers.

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·2026
Same journal

Health tourism in limb reconstruction - a recognised burden on the NHS.

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·2026
Same journal

A multicentre audit of costs, plastic waste and CO<sub>2</sub>-equivalent emissions of single-use items in flexible nasal endoscopy in UK ENT practice.

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·2026
Same journal

Response to recent technical tip describing screw length measurement technique.

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·2026
See all related articles

Ecstasy (MDMA) use is linked to pneumomediastinum, a rare condition. The likely cause is the Valsalva maneuver during intense physical activity, not a direct drug effect.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Toxicology
  • Emergency medicine

Background:

  • Ecstasy, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is a popular recreational drug among young adults.
  • MDMA acts as a central nervous system stimulant, inducing euphoria.
  • Pneumomediastinum is a rare but serious condition involving air in the chest cavity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between ecstasy use and pneumomediastinum.
  • To identify and analyze cases of pneumomediastinum in patients with a history of MDMA use.

Main Methods:

  • Database review of patients presenting with pneumomediastinum at two urban hospitals.
  • Chart review of identified patients.
  • Medline search for reported cases of pneumomediastinum linked to ecstasy abuse.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Fifty-six patients with pneumomediastinum were identified over five years.
  • Six of these patients reported ecstasy use prior to presentation.
  • This represents the largest reported series of ecstasy-associated pneumomediastinum.

Conclusions:

  • Pneumomediastinum in ecstasy users is likely caused by the Valsalva maneuver.
  • Extreme physical exertion during drug use may precipitate the condition.
  • A direct pharmacological effect of MDMA is unlikely to be the primary cause.