Mediastinal Emphysema Quiz

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Reviewed By:

Maxwell J. Nanes

Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency department)

Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |

Eisaku Kamakura

Eisaku Kamakura, MD (Respiratory medicine)

Dr. Kamakura graduated from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, School of Dentistry, and the Niigata University School of Medicine. He trained at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital and held positions in the Respiratory Medicine departments at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Ome City General Hospital, and Musashino Red Cross Hospital. In 2021, he became the specially appointed assistant professor at the Department of General Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine.

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People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

  • Chest pain on left side

  • Tight feeling in the chest

  • Shortness of breath when lying down

  • Chest pain when I breathe

  • Pain around the rib cage

  • Breathing out is easy but breathing in is difficult

  • Right side chest pain

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Learn more about Mediastinal emphysema

Content updated on Sep 20, 2022

What is mediastinal emphysema?

A condition where air enters the mediastinum (space around the heart and food tube). Causes include severe vomiting, vigorous coughing, or direct trauma to the chest.

Symptoms of mediastinal emphysema

  • Chest pain

  • Feeling breathless

  • Chest tightness

Questions your doctor may ask to check for mediastinal emphysema

Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose mediastinal emphysema

  • Do you have any chest pain?

  • Are you breathless or having hard time breathing?

  • Do you have chest tightness?

Treatment for mediastinal emphysema

Most cases don't need treatment as the body will slowly absorb the air. Breathing high concentrations of oxygen may speed up recovery. Antibiotics will be used if infection is suspected. Rarely, surgery is required if there are injuries to other organs.

View the symptoms of Mediastinal emphysema

  • Chest pain

  • Shortness of breath

References

  • Maunder RJ, Pierson DJ, Hudson LD. Subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema. Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. Arch Intern Med. 1984 Jul;144(7):1447-53. PMID: 6375617.

    https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/604688

  • Yoshimaru K, Kaku N, Taku K, Maki J, Taguchi T. Mediastinal emphysema induced by minor intraoral toothbrush injury. Pediatr Int. 2021 Apr;63(4):488-489. doi: 10.1111/ped.14528. PMID: 33881214.

    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ped.14528

  • van der Horst W, Nier H, Meyer W. Traumatic mediastinal emphysema. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg (1978). 1980;97(1):17-9. doi: 10.1007/BF00381523. PMID: 7447655.

    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00381523

User testimonials

Reviewed By:

Maxwell J. Nanes

Maxwell J. Nanes, DO (Emergency department)

Dr Nanes received a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete a residency in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. There he trained at Froedtert Hospital and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in the practice of adult and pediatric emergency medicine. He was a chief resident and received numerous awards for teaching excellence during his time there. | | After residency he took a job at a community hospital where he and his colleagues worked through the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. |

Eisaku Kamakura

Eisaku Kamakura, MD (Respiratory medicine)

Dr. Kamakura graduated from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, School of Dentistry, and the Niigata University School of Medicine. He trained at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital and held positions in the Respiratory Medicine departments at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Ome City General Hospital, and Musashino Red Cross Hospital. In 2021, he became the specially appointed assistant professor at the Department of General Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine.

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