title: Pneumomediastinum: physiopathological considerations and report of six cases treated in an emergency surgery division.
abstract: Pneumomediastinum indicates the presence of air in the mediastinal space. It may be classified in three categories, based on the main causes of air dissection into the mediastinal structures: spontaneous pneumomediastinum (pnm), the most frequently encountered, post traumatic pnm and pnm secondary to non-traumatic rupture of an abdominal hollow viscus. This paper reports the experience of a major regional emergency surgery division in the management of pnm during a five years period. Physiopathologic correlations are discussed together with diagnostic and therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: San Carlo Borromeo Hospital, Milan, Luigi Resnati Surgical Division.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Urbano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fuertes Guiró
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Biraghi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thodas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sampietro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography