Pneumomediastinum as a complication of asthma in teenage and young adult patients

The characteristics of 11 patients (age range, 13 to 31 yr) with asthma complicated by pneumomediastinum are presented. Nine of 11 patients were male. Cough and chest pain were prominent symptoms in the affected individuals. Subcutaneous emphysema was noted in all but 1 patient who presented with an unusual radiographic finding: a radiolucent rim surrounding the pulmonary artery. Hamman's sign was detected in 7 patients. None of the patients required specific therapy for pneumomediastinum. The pathophysiology of pneumomediastinum was reviewed.