title: Percutaneous relief of tension pneumomediastinum in a child.
abstract: The purpose of this article was to describe the experience of relieving tension pneumomediastinum by a fluoroscopic-guided percutaneous method. We inserted a percutaneous drainage catheter with a Heimlich valve under fluoroscopic guidance to relieve the tension pneumomediastinum in a 2-year-old girl who suffered from dermatomyositis with lung involvement. This allowed immediate relief without the need for surgery. The procedure was repeated for relapsed tension pneumomediastinum. Good immediate results were achieved in each attempt. We conclude that percutaneous relief of pneumomediastinum under fluoroscopic guidance can be performed safely and rapidly in patients not fit for surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 30 Gascoigne Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Helen Hoi-lun
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Philip Chong-hei
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Albert Kwok-hung
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Tsz Wo
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Susan Chi-hum
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Ting Yat
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Miu
authors.forename: Grace Lai-har
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome