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Epidurual pneumatosis: a benign complication of benign pneumomediastinum
C Defouilloy1, C Galy, E Lobjoie
1Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CHU, Nord, Amiens, France.
The European Respiratory Journal
|October 1, 1995
Abstract:
Subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum are well-known complications of barotrauma. There are no fascial barriers between the posterior mediastinum and the retropharyngeal and epidural spaces; thus, air can diffuse freely to the epidural space and produce an epidural pneumatosis. We report a case of epidural pneumatosis caused by a pneumomediastinum following nasotracheal intubation for an attempted suicide. This benign complication of air leakage was easily recognized on computed tomography (CT) scan.