title: Epidurual pneumatosis: a benign complication of benign pneumomediastinum.
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.
authors.affiliation: Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, CHU, Nord, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Defouilloy
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lobjoie
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Strunski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ossart
mesh_terms: 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