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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Sep 2023This case report presents an iatrogenic induced mediastinal emphysema after restorative treatment of the lower left second molar, aimed to highlight the potential...
This case report presents an iatrogenic induced mediastinal emphysema after restorative treatment of the lower left second molar, aimed to highlight the potential life-threatening consequences, and providing diagnostics and treatment concepts of complicated dental induced emphysema based on literature review. A 74-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department due to a fall on her shoulder. Additional finding was a significant swelling of the face and neck. In the computer tomography of the head, neck, and thorax, a humerus fracture and pronounced soft tissue emphysema from the infraorbital region to the mediastinum was detected. The patient reported that she had been treated by her dentist 4 days earlier. The treatment had to be discontinued after beginning of a pronounced swelling. Other reasons for the emphysema could be excluded out on an interdisciplinary teamwork. The patient was monitored as an inpatient for 5 days and received intravenous antibiotic therapy. This case report shows the rare complication of pronounced mediastinal emphysema after root canal treatment. Emphysema should always be a differential diagnosis of soft tissue swelling and, in case of doubt, a general medical presentation should be made.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged; Mediastinal Emphysema; Face; Molar; Tooth Extraction; Subcutaneous Emphysema
PubMed: 35680758
DOI: 10.1007/s10006-022-01088-5 -
International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2022Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) during pregnancy or labor is a rare event. We presented a case report and a systematic review of the literature to provide... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) during pregnancy or labor is a rare event. We presented a case report and a systematic review of the literature to provide comprehensive symptoms, treatments, and complications analysis in the pregnant population affected by SPM.
METHODS
We conducted a comprehensive search of four databases for published papers in all languages from the beginning to 1 September 2021; Results: We included 76 papers with a total of 80 patients. A total of 76% patients were young primiparous, with a median age of 24 ± 5.4 years. The median gestational age was 40 ± 2.4 weeks, with a median duration of labor of 7.4 ± 4.2 h. In 86%, the ethnic origin was not specified. SPM develops in 55% of cases during the second stage of labor. Subcutaneous swelling and subcutaneous emphysema were present in 91.4%. Chest pain and dyspnea were present in 51.4% and 50% of the patients, respectively. We found that 32.9% patients had crepitus, and less common symptoms were dysphonia and tachycardia (14.3% and 14.3%, respectively). Oxygen and bronchodilators were used in 37.7% of the cases. Analgesics or sedatives were administered in 27.1%. Conservative management or the observation was performed in 21.4% and 28.6%, respectively. Antibiotics treatment was offered in 14.3%, whereas invasive procedures such as chest-tube drainage were used in just 5.7% of patients. There were no complications documented in most SPM (70.0%). We found that 16.7% of the SPM developed a pneumothorax and 5% developed a pneumopericardium.; Conclusions: In pregnancy, SPM occurs as subcutaneous swelling or emphysema during the second stage of labor. The treatment is usually conservative, with oxygen and bronchodilators and a low sequela rate. A universal consensus on therapy of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in pregnancy is necessary to reduce the risk of complications.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bronchodilator Agents; Child, Preschool; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Humans; Mediastinal Emphysema; Oxygen; Pregnancy; Subcutaneous Emphysema; Syndrome; Young Adult
PubMed: 35457486
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084618 -
Craniomaxillofacial Trauma &... Mar 2022Pneumomediastinum (PM) secondary to oromaxillofacial trauma (OMF) is a rare but well-described complication/pathologic finding. The aim of this study was twofold: first,... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Pneumomediastinum (PM) secondary to oromaxillofacial trauma (OMF) is a rare but well-described complication/pathologic finding. The aim of this study was twofold: first, to report our experience in treatment of maxillofacial trauma patients with PM, and second, to review the literature regarding the clinical features, severity, course, and management of the aforementioned complication.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and charts of patients who suffered from maxillofacial trauma and treated in our hospital between September 1, 2013 and September 31, 2017. The inclusion criteria were patients with radiologically confirmed PM. In addition, the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct were queried for articles reporting PM cases secondary to OMF injuries and published in English, French, and German language.
RESULTS
Three cases of PM out of 3,514 cases of craniomaxillofacial trauma were found; there were 3 male patients who presented in our emergency department with the chief complaint of cervicofacial swelling. Literature search isolated 58 selected articles and 63 cases were assessed in total; posttraumatic repeated blowing of nose was proved as most frequent triggering factor among them. Furthermore, the outcomes of review showed that thoracic pain, respiratory distress, and swallowing difficulties were not frequently reported in patients with ME due to facial trauma.
CONCLUSIONS
Both our experience and the results of systematic literature review indicated that patients with PM due to OMF injuries present mild clinical course. If properly managed, this specific pathologic condition may have no further complications or relative comorbidities. The exact etiology and mechanism of PM in the context of maxillofacial injuries always needs to be identified. Radiographic, laboratory, and endoscopic examinations should be applied to rule out the more serious and frequently diagnosed aerodigestive, thoracic, and abdominal causes of PM.
PubMed: 35265281
DOI: 10.1177/1943387521997236 -
Critical Care Medicine Mar 2022There are concerns of a high barotrauma rate in coronavirus disease 2019 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving invasive mechanical ventilation.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
There are concerns of a high barotrauma rate in coronavirus disease 2019 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. However, a few studies were published, and reported rates were highly variable. We performed a systematic literature review to identify rates of barotrauma, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum in coronavirus disease 2019 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation.
DATA SOURCE
PubMed and Scopus were searched for studies reporting barotrauma event rate in adult coronavirus disease 2019 patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation.
STUDY SELECTION
We included all studies investigating adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019 acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation. Case reports, studies performed outside ICU setting, and pediatric studies were excluded. Two investigators independently screened and selected studies for inclusion.
DATA EXTRACTION
Two investigators abstracted data on study characteristics, rate of pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and overall barotrauma events, and mortality. When available, data from noncoronavirus disease 2019 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients were also collected. Pooled estimates for barotrauma, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum were calculated.
DATA SYNTHESIS
A total of 13 studies with 1,814 invasively ventilated coronavirus disease 2019 patients and 493 noncoronavirus disease 2019 patients were included. A total of 266/1,814 patients (14.7%) had at least one barotrauma event (pooled estimates, 16.1% [95% CI, 11.8-20.4%]). Pneumothorax occurred in 132/1,435 patients (pooled estimates, 10.7%; 95% CI, 6.7-14.7%), whereas pneumomediastinum occurred in 162/1,432 patients (pooled estimates, 11.2%; 95% CI, 8.0-14.3%). Mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 patients who developed barotrauma was 111/198 patients (pooled estimates, 61.6%; 95% CI, 50.2-73.0%). In noncoronavirus disease 2019 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients, barotrauma occurred in 31/493 patients (6.3%; pooled estimates, 5.7%; 95% CI, -2.1% to 13.5%).
CONCLUSIONS
Barotrauma occurs in one out of six coronavirus disease 2019 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and is associated with a mortality rate of about 60%. Barotrauma rate may be higher than noncoronavirus disease 2019 controls.
Topics: Barotrauma; COVID-19; Humans; Mediastinal Emphysema; Pneumothorax; Respiration, Artificial; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34637421
DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005283 -
Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals Feb 2022There are various reports of air leaks with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We undertook a systematic review of all published case reports and series to analyse the...
INTRODUCTION
There are various reports of air leaks with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We undertook a systematic review of all published case reports and series to analyse the types of air leaks in COVID-19 and their outcomes.
METHODS
The literature search from PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases was performed from the start of the pandemic till 31 March 2021. The inclusion criteria were case reports or series on (1) laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, (2) with the individual patient details, and (3) reported diagnosis of one or more air leak syndrome (pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, pneumoperitoneum, pneumopericardium).
RESULTS
A total of 105 studies with 188 patients were included in the final analysis. The median age was 56.02 (SD 15.53) years, 80% males, 11% had previous respiratory disease, and 8% were smokers. Severe or critical COVID-19 was present in 50.6% of the patients. Pneumothorax (68%) was the most common type of air leak. Most patients (56.7%) required intervention with lower mortality (29.1% vs. 44.1%, p = 0.07) and intercostal drain (95.9%) was the preferred interventional management. More than half of the patients developed air leak on spontaneous breathing. The mortality was significantly higher in patients who developed air leak with positive pressure ventilation (49%, p < 0.001) and required escalation of respiratory support (39%, p = 0.006).
CONCLUSION
Air leak in COVID-19 can occur spontaneously without positive pressure ventilation, higher transpulmonary pressures, and other risk factors like previous respiratory disease or smoking. The mortality is significantly higher if associated with positive pressure ventilation and escalation of respiratory support.
Topics: COVID-19; Female; Humans; Male; Mediastinal Emphysema; Middle Aged; Pneumothorax; SARS-CoV-2; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34247490
DOI: 10.1177/02184923211031134 -
Heart & Lung : the Journal of Critical... 2021Pneumothorax has been frequently described as a complication of COVID-19 infections.
BACKGROUND
Pneumothorax has been frequently described as a complication of COVID-19 infections.
OBJECTIVE
In this systematic review, we describe the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of COVID-19-related pneumothorax.
METHODS
Studies were identified through MEDLINE, Pubmed, and Google Scholar databases using keywords of "COVID-19," "SARS-CoV-2," "pneumothorax," "pneumomediastinum," and "barotrauma" from January 1st, 2020 to January 30th, 2021.
RESULTS
Among the nine observational studies, the incidence of pneumothorax is low at 0.3% in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, the incidence of pneumothorax increases to 12.8-23.8% in those requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) with a high mortality rate up to 100%. COVID-19-related pneumothorax tends to be unilateral and right-sided. Age, pre-existing lung diseases, and active smoking status are not shown to be risk factors. The time to pneumothorax diagnosis is around 9.0-19.6 days from admission and 5.4 days after IMV initiation. COVID-19-related pneumothoraces are associated with prolonged hospitalization, increased likelihood of ICU admission and death, especially among the elderly.
CONCLUSION
COVID-19-related pneumothorax likely signify greater disease severity. With the high variability of COVID-19-related pneumothorax incidence described, a well-designed study is required to better assess the significance of COVID-19-related pneumothorax.
Topics: Aged; COVID-19; Humans; Incidence; Mediastinal Emphysema; Pneumothorax; Respiration, Artificial; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34087677
DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2021.04.005 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Mar 2021Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum is a rare disease. It could be a simple and self-limited condition or be a life-threatening complication of underlying diseases. The... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum is a rare disease. It could be a simple and self-limited condition or be a life-threatening complication of underlying diseases. The therapeutic options also differ by the cause. This systematic review was done to provide, as far as we know, the first attempt to broadly assess the clinical feature, predisposing factors, possible management, and outcome of spontaneous primary pneumomediastinum.
METHODS
In addition to the two patients treated at our hospital, a Pub Med Search for literature on case reports of spontaneous pneumomediastinum published in English up to November 2018 was done. We extracted data on patients' demographic characteristics, symptoms, timing, diagnosis, management, and outcome of the treatment were analyzed based on the preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) RESULT: A total of 339 cases were reviewed. 71.7% of them were male. The Mean age affected was 22.4 ± 11.3 years. Chest pain, 196 (57.8%), is the most common presenting symptom, followed by dyspnea, 156 (46%), cough 95 (28%), neck swelling 92 (27.13%), cervical pain 88 (25.9%), dysphagia 39 (11.5%), odynophagia 37 (10.9%), and Dysphonia 14 (4.1%). Fifty-seven patients (16.8%) had a prior history of Asthma, 19 (5.6%) had Connective Tissue Disorders, and 12 (3.5%) had associated malignancy as an identified risk factor. In 35 (10.3%) patients, spontaneous pneumomediastinum was found incidentally. The mean number of days before the clinical resolution of spontaneous pneumomediastinum was 6.65 ± 11.8 days and the average hospital stay was 4.15 ± 1.93 days. Nineteen (5.6%) patients have died as a result of the underlying disease not related to SPM.
CONCLUSION
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is uncommon, usually benign, a self-limited disorder that commonly occurs in a young adult without any apparent precipitating factor or disease. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum usually responds very well to conservative treatment without recurrence. However, secondary causes should be ruled out to minimize the unfavorable outcome.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Chest Pain; Child; Cough; Dyspnea; Female; Humans; Male; Mediastinal Emphysema; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Young Adult
PubMed: 33761988
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-021-02701-z -
Medicine Aug 2020Previous literature on epidural pneumatosis (pneumorrhachis, or air in epidural cavity) associated with forceful vomiting in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)...
Proposed characterization of the syndrome of epidural pneumatosis (pneumorrhachis) in patients with forceful vomiting from diabetic ketoacidosis as a clinico-radiologic pentad based on systematic literature review & an illustrative case report.
BACKGROUND
Previous literature on epidural pneumatosis (pneumorrhachis, or air in epidural cavity) associated with forceful vomiting in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has consisted of individual case reports without comprehensive syndrome characterization due to syndromic rarity, with the largest previous literature review comprising 6 cases. Presumed pathophysiology is air escaping from alveolar rupture from forceful vomiting via tissue planes to cause epidural pneumatosis.
AIM
Systematically review literature to facilitate syndromic diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment. A new illustrative case is reported.
METHODS
Systematic review of literature using 2 independent readers, 2 computerized databases, and the following medical terms/keywords: ["epidural pneumatosis" OR "pneumorrhachis"] AND ["diabetes" OR "diabetic ketoacidosis" or "DKA"]. Discrepancies between 2 readers were resolved by consensus using prospectively developed study inclusion criteria. Two readers independently abstracted case report. Prospective review protocol and patients, problems, intervene, comparison group, outcomes discussed in Methods section of paper.
RESULTS-SYSTEMATIC-LITERATURE-REVIEW
Revealed 10 previously reported cases plus 1 new case (see below) that shows this syndrome presents rather stereotypically with the tentatively proposed following pentad (% of patients fulfilling individual criterion): 1-forceful vomiting (100%), 2-during DKA (100%), 3-pneumomediastinum from forceful alveolar rupture (100%), 4-epidural pneumatosis from air escape from pneumomediastinum (100%), and 5-no complications of Boerhaave syndrome or of focal neurological deficits (100%). Pentad is pathophysiologically reasonable because forceful vomiting can cause alveolar rupture, pneumomediastinum, and air entry into epidural space.
RESULTS-ILLUSTRATIVE-CASE-REPORT
Epidural pneumatosis occurred in a 33-year-old-male with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus type 1 who presented with forceful vomiting while in DKA. Radiologic findings also included subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and small pneumothorax. The patient rapidly improved while receiving acute therapy for DKA, and was discharged after 2 hospital days.
STUDY LIMITATIONS
Limited number of analyzed, retrospectively reported cases. Case reports subject to reporting bias. Specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value not meaningfully analyzed in this homogeneous population.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on systematic review, syndrome is tentatively proposed as a pentad with: 1-forceful vomiting, 2-during DKA, 3- pneumomediastinum, 4-epidural pneumatosis, and 5-no complications of Boerhaave syndrome or focal neurological deficits. Proposed pentad should be prospectively tested in a larger population including patients with this versus closely related syndromes.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Conservative Treatment; Diabetic Ketoacidosis; Esophageal Perforation; Female; Humans; Male; Mediastinal Diseases; Mediastinal Emphysema; Nervous System Diseases; Pneumorrhachis; Pneumothorax; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Pulmonary Alveoli; Radiography, Thoracic; Retrospective Studies; Rupture; Subcutaneous Emphysema; Syndrome; Treatment Outcome; Vomiting; Young Adult
PubMed: 32871860
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000021001 -
International Archives of... Jan 2020Mitomycin C is a natural antibiotic that has been used to inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts in scar tissue. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of... (Review)
Review
Mitomycin C is a natural antibiotic that has been used to inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts in scar tissue. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of topical Mitomycin C as an adjuvant in the endoscopic treatment of laryngotracheal stenoses. A systematic review of experimental or observational studies that have evaluated the treatment of laryngotracheal stenoses with the use of topical Mitomycin C was performed. Databases researched: LILACS, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science. Outcomes: resolution (symptom-free time ≥ one year), number of procedures required, and complications resulting from the procedure. A total of 15 studies (involving 387 patients) were selected. Mitomycin C was administered to every patient in 11 studies, and in 4 other studies, the patients were separated into 2 groups, 1 receiving mitomycin C, and the other not. The resolution of the stenosis evaluated in 12 studies in which the patients received mitomycin C was of 69% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 61-76%; I = 17.3%). A total of 52% of the patients (95%CI: 39-64%, 11 studies; I = 64.7%) were submitted to a single endoscopic procedure, and 48% (95%CI: 36-61%, 11 studies; I = 64.7%) were submitted to more than 1 procedure. Complications (mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema, dysphonia, laceration or vocal fold paralysis and acute light obstruction) were reported in 9% of the patients (95%CI: 3-18%, 9 studies; I = 79.8%). The evidence suggests that mitomycin C is an effective and safe option in the endoscopic treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis.
PubMed: 31915466
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1700582