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Test Findings
 
 

Mediastinal Air

October 21st, 2019
 
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Overview

Air within the mediastinum is known as pneumomediastinum.
  • Look For

  • Overly sharp mediastinal borders
  • Lucencies around the cardiac apex and great vessels
  • Example

  • Pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum in a post-trauma patient
  • No Overlay
    Overlay
    Pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum in a post-trauma patient
     
  • Causes of Pneumomediastinum

  • Tracheal / major bronchial rupture - trauma, iatrogenic, spontaneous
  • Oesophageal rupture - trauma, iatrogenic, spontaneous
  • Alveolar rupture - asthma, airway foreign body, mechanical ventilation, coughing, vomiting, pneumonitis, emphysema, fibrosis
  • Tracking of air from the neck - facial fracture, dental extraction, tracheostomy
  • Tracking of air from the abdomen - hollow viscous perforation
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