Sports-related spontaneous pneumomediastinum.
BACKGROUND
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare medical entity occurring almost exclusively in otherwise healthy young individuals without known predisposing factors. We reported our experience with patients presenting with spontaneous pneumomediastinum related to sports.


METHODS
Between January 1991 and December 2002, 10 patients were admitted with spontaneous pneumomediastinum related to sporting activities. We retrospectively reviewed their medical records with regard to predisposing factors, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and outcome.


RESULTS
The mean age of our patients was 18.9 years (range 15 to 25 years). Retrosternal chest pain was the most common symptom (90%), and subcutaneous emphysema the most common physical finding (90%). Hamman's sign was present in 9 patients. In all 10 patients, physical exertion during sports was the only implicating factor (scuba diving in 4 patients, basketball in 2, soccer in 3, and volleyball in 1). All patients were treated conservatively. Complete resorption of the pneumomediastinum occurred in 3 to 8 days. Hospital stay ranged from 2 to 6 days (mean 3.8 days). Follow-up was complete in 8 patients (80%), and ranged from 6 to 84 months (mean 35 months). Only 1 recurrence of pneumomediastinum was found that was treated similarly.


CONCLUSIONS
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum after sporting activities is a benign disease that generally resolves without clinical sequelae. Restriction of physical and athletic activity after the first episode is unnecessary, the only exception being that of scuba diving.
Mihos
Petros
P
Department of General Thoracic Surgery, K.A.T. General Hospital of Attica, Kifissia, Greece. pmihos@otenet.gr
Potaris
Konstantinos
K
Gakidis
Ioannis
I
Mazaris
Evangelos
E
Sarras
Emmanuel
E
Kontos
Zois
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies