title: Pneumomediastinum Complicating Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Boerhaave's Syndrome.
abstract: An 18-year-old man presented with altered mental status. He was found to have diabetic ketoacidosis. Chest X-ray showed pneumomediastinum. After intubation for air-way protection, an oral-gastric tube was placed. A chest computed tomography scan showed the tip of the oral-gastric tube to be in the right hemithorax. The patient underwent a thoracotomy and was managed in the intensive care unit. Both diabetic ketoacidosis and Boerhaave's syndrome should be considered as possible causes of pneumomediastinum in a patient with similar presentation. Boerhaave's syndrome should be ruled out prior to the insertion of an oral-gastric tube to avoid further morbidities.
authors.affiliation: The Commonwealth Medical College, Pocono Medical Center, 175 East Brown Street, Suite 203, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, USA.
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alkhuja
authors.affiliation: The Commonwealth Medical College, Pocono Medical Center, 175 East Brown Street, Suite 203, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, USA.
authors.forename: Natalya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gazizov
authors.affiliation: The Commonwealth Medical College, Pocono Medical Center, 175 East Brown Street, Suite 203, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, USA.
authors.forename: Gervais
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Charles