TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Pneumomediastinum after inhalation of helium gas from party balloons
JO  - Journal of emergency medicine
A1  - Zaia, Brita E.
A1  - Wheeler, Stephen
SP  - 155
EP  - 158
VL  - 38
IS  - 2
N2  - 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.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0736-4679
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.02.066
ID  - ref1
ER  -