Pneumomediastinum: physiopathological considerations and report of six cases treated in an emergency surgery division.
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.
D'Urbano
C
C
San Carlo Borromeo Hospital, Milan, Luigi Resnati Surgical Division.
Fuertes Guiró
F
F
Biraghi
T
T
Thodas
A
A
Sampietro
R
R
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