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Spontaneous pneumomediastinum
1Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico.
A 15-year-old pregnant girl developed severe substernal pain during the final effort to give birth to her first child. Shortly thereafter a growing crepitant suprasternal swelling was noted. Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema was clearly demonstrated by a chest film showing mediastinal air dissecting towards the neck and supradiaphragmatically. The causes and physiopathology of spontaneous pneumomediastinum are reviewed. The therapeutic use of oxygen is discussed.
A 15-year-old pregnant girl developed severe substernal pain during the final effort to give birth to her first child. Shortly thereafter a growing crepitant suprasternal swelling was noted. Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema was clearly demonstrated by a chest film showing mediastinal air dissecting towards the neck and supradiaphragmatically. The causes and physiopathology of spontaneous pneumomediastinum are reviewed. The therapeutic use of oxygen is discussed.