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Unusual association of diseases/symptoms
CASE REPORT
Postpartum pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema
  1. Diaeddin Sagar1,2,
  2. Trevor K Rogers3,
  3. Aldrin Adeni4
  1. 1Respiratory Department, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster, UK
  2. 2Respiratory Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, UK
  3. 3Respiratory Medicine, Doncaster and Bessetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster, UK
  4. 4Respiratory Department, Doncaster and Bessetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Diaeddin Sagar, dia_eddin{at}yahoo.com

Summary

We present the case of a 22-year-old primigravida with symptoms of neck swelling and difficulty breathing 3 hours after uneventful vaginal delivery. On examination, there was surgical emphysema. A CT scan confirmed air in the subcutaneous tissues and also revealed pneumomediastinum. There was no evidence of pneumothorax and gastro-oesophageal endoscopy showed no signs of oesophageal rupture. The patient remained clinically stable throughout her admission and was discharged home after 48 hours of observation. Pneumomediastinum is one of the rare causes of shortness of breath and chest pain during the postpartum period, and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Despite the significant abnormalities seen on plain radiography and CT scan, this condition spontaneously resolves. Although postpartum pneumomediastinum has been related to prolonged labour, this was not the case in our patient.

  • pregnancy
  • radiology
  • smoking and tobacco
  • respiratory medicine

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2018-224800

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors DS has collected the data about the patient’s clinical presentation, reviewed the available literature about similar conditions, designed and wrote the manuscript. TKR has been involved in the patient’s care and management plan. He has reviewed and provided critical feedback on the manuscript. AA has been involved in the patient’s care and management plan. He has reviewed and provided feedback on the manuscript. All authors have approved the manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.