Do not try at home alone; spontaneous pneumomediastinum due to handstand

Year 2022, , 62 - 65, 23.06.2022

Emrah Yürek İbrahim Altundağ , Bedran Aslan Sinem Doğruyol

https://doi.org/10.33706/jemcr.1059181

Abstract

Introduction: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SP) is the accumulation of air in the mediastinum without a surgical or traumatic etiology. It is thought that the basic mechanism triggering SP is the pressure difference that develops after a strong Valsalva maneuver.
Case report: We presented a 50-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with sudden onset chest and epigastric pain that started after standing up for a handstand. He had atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response with a hearth rate of 285 beat/min. Heart rate control was achieved after medical treatment. His computerised tomography was consistent with air in mediastinum. First line treatment was started and the patient was transferred to the thoracic surgery ward.
Conclusion: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is one of the rare diagnoses that should be considered in patients presenting with chest pain and shortness of breath. It is important to correctly evaluate what may be associated with the valsalva maneuver among the sportive movements performed at home, and to keep in mind that SP can also occur in different age groups in order to make the correct diagnosis.

Keywords

emergency medicine, spontaneous pneumomediastinum, valsalva

Project Number

yok

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