Pneumomediastino spontaneo e traumatico

Pneumomediastinum (spontaneous, jatrogen and traumatic) is a relatively uncommon infrequently reported entity. The most common cause is the rupture of marginal pulmonary alveoli, allowing bubbles of air to dissect along the vascular sheats and connective tissue planes to the mediastinum. Rupture of the trachea or thoracic traumas are other causes of pneumomediastinum. The most common presenting complaint was retrosternal pain, dyspnea, dysphagia, weakness and neck pain. Physical finding revea-led: subcutaneous emphysema extended to face, chest or neck, and Hamman's sign. Chest X-ray was made in all cases and diagnosis was completed with chest CT scan and tracheoscopy. We present our serie of 34 PM between January 1.1993 to July 31.1995 and discuss about etiology, diagnosis and treatment of this entity.