Citation

Zaia BE, Wheeler S. J. Emerg. Med. 2010; 38(2): 155-158.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, Alameda County Medical Center-Highland General Hospital, Oakland, California 94602, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.02.066

PMID

18024067

Abstract

A previously healthy 16-year-old boy presented to the Emergency Department with a 2-day history of hoarseness, sore throat, and chest tightness. The physical examination was significant for diffuse neck and chest subcutaneous emphysema. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the neck and chest revealed pneumomediastinum after a plain chest X-ray study failed to uncover this finding. The patient reported that 5 days before presentation he forcefully inhaled helium gas directly from multiple party balloons in an attempt to alter his voice. The patient fully recovered over the next 2 days. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum developed in this patient with no underlying lung disease, presumably from air leakage secondary to the excessive elevation of intra-thoracic pressure due to repetitive inhalation of helium gas. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum remains largely underdiagnosed clinically, especially in young, healthy patients.

Language: en