title: Tension mediastinal emphysema: emergency percutaneous drainage with CT guidance.
abstract: Four patients aged 8 to 54 years, under mechanical ventilation, presented with sudden tension mediastinal emphysema and exhibited typical clinical symptoms of compromised venous return. Diagnosis of tension mediastinal emphysema was confirmed by CT. A percutaneous catheter with a diameter varying from F12 to F20 was inserted in the anterior mediastinal compartment with CT control and connected to a waterseal aspiration. Emergency treatment was efficient in all patients. Percutaneous aspiration was continued for 3 to 20 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Centre Hospitalier, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Dondelinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coulon
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kurdziel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hemmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed