title: Exacerbation of pneumomediastinum after air travel in a patient with dermatomyositis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the presence of pneumothorax is generally considered an absolute contraindication to air travel, reports on pneumomediastinum after air travel are extremely rare. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, exacerbation of existing pneumomediastinum after commercial air travel has never been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on a case of a patient (the first case that we are aware of) who suffered exacerbation of pneumomediastinum after commercial air travel. This patient, with confirmed pneumomediastinum before air travel, flew to our city for medical care without being warned about exacerbation by the local hospital or airlines. Obvious exacerbation of pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema was noticed after the travel. Subsequently, a diagnosis of amyopathic dermatomyositis with interstitial lung disease and pneumomediastinum was made. The patient died despite treatment with corticosteroid, cyclophosphamide and intravenous immunoglobulin. This report discusses this rare condition and offers suggestions regarding air travel for patients with presence of pneumomediastinum at the time of flight.
authors: Department of Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors: Qiuyue
authors: Q
authors: Ye
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Xinlun
authors: X
authors: Tian
authors: Juhong
authors: J
authors: Shi
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications*; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000150:complications