title: Pneumomediastinum in student aviators: 10 cases with return to flying duty.
abstract: Pneumomediastinum (PnM) is an uncommon phenomenon, though it is one of the most common causes of chest pain in young adults. It may be particularly important among aviators, as it may result in in-flight incapacitation. Spontaneous PnM is a variant usually associated with the Valsalva maneuver, used during high-performance flight. This may increase the risk of PnM recurrence and raises concern regarding the return to flight duties of aviators after an episode of spontaneous PnM. We present 10 student aviators who experienced a single episode of uncomplicated PnM unassociated with flight. All were returned to flying duty following a normal pulmonary evaluation and are still in active duty. Follow-up was conducted for a mean period of 74.7 mo without any adverse consequences. These findings support the return of aviators to flying duty after a single episode of uncomplicated spontaneous PnM.
authors.affiliation: Israeli Air Force Aeromedical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. gross-e@zahav.net.il
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: Ayal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romem
authors.forename: Bella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Azaria
authors.forename: Liav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Erez
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barenboim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008889:Military Personnel; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications; D011859:Radiography; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests