title: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: a rare complication of bronchial asthma.
abstract: Pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of an acute exacerbation of asthma. We describe a 28-year-old female who was admitted to hospital with acute severe exacerbation of asthma and developed a spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) with associated subcutaneous emphysema. She was successfully managed conservatively. On follow up there was resolution of the subcutaneous emphysema and the pneumomediastinum, clinically and radiologically. SPM although usually a self-limiting condition, can occasionally be life threatening. Therefore, it is important to raise the awareness of this potential complication of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham HU16 5JQ, United Kingdom. sfaruqi@doctors.net.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faruqi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Greenstone
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kastelik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult