title: Subcutaneous Emphysema in Acute Asthma: A Cause for Concern?
abstract: Pneumomediastinum has been described in patients with asthma. In this case report, we describe a young patient who presented to our medical assessment unit with an asthma exacerbation and progressive dyspnea. The patient developed pneumomediastinum, a rare complication of an asthma exacerbation. Pneumomediastinum is usually characterized by chest pain, dyspnea, and neck swelling caused by subcutaneous emphysema. Although the condition is usually benign and treatment is primarily supportive, surgical intervention may be needed if the patient develops hemodynamic compromise or respiratory failure through mechanisms similar to those seen in a tension pneumothorax.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and General Internal Medicine, St Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, County Dublin, Ireland. patrickdavidmitchell@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and General Internal Medicine, St Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, County Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and General Internal Medicine, St Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, County Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Donal B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: O'Shea
mesh_terms: D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D013224:Status Asthmaticus / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: asthma; dyspnea; pneumomediastinum