Epidurual pneumatosis: a benign complication of benign pneumomediastinum.
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.
Defouilloy
C
C
Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CHU, Nord, Amiens, France.
Galy
C
C
Lobjoie
E
E
Strunski
V
V
Ossart
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D004646:Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed