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Hamman's syndrome, also known as Macklin's syndrome, is a syndrome of spontaneous subcutaneous emphysema [1] (air in the subcutaneous tissues of the skin) and pneumomediastinum (air in the mediastinum, the center of the chest cavity), sometimes associated with pain and, less commonly, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), dysphonia, and a low-grade fever.
In rare cases, pneumomediastinum may also arise as a result of blunt chest trauma (e.g. car accidents, fights, over pressure of breathing apparatus), while still evolving in the same fashion as the spontaneous form. [13] Pneumomediastinum is most commonly seen in otherwise healthy young male patients and may not be prefaced by a relevant ...
Pneumomediastinum occurs due to the escape of air from ruptured alveoli or airways into the mediastinal space. The rupture of alveoli due to increased intrathoracic pressure (e.g., from coughing, vomiting, or trauma) leads to air tracking along the peribronchovascular interstitium which in turn accumulates in the mediastinum.
Since treatment usually involves dealing with the underlying condition, cases of spontaneous subcutaneous emphysema may require nothing more than bed rest, medication to control pain, and perhaps supplemental oxygen. [5] Breathing oxygen may help the body to absorb the subcutaneous air more quickly. [10]
Hamman's sign (rarely, Hammond's sign [1] or Hammond's crunch [2]) is a medical sign consisting of a crunching, rasping sound, synchronous with the heartbeat, [3] heard over the precordium in spontaneous mediastinal emphysema. It is thought to result from the heart beating against air-filled tissues.
Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum is a rare case that is not caused by an abdominal organ rupture. This is also called an idiopathic spontaneous pneumoperitoneum when the cause is not known. In the mid-twentieth century, an "artificial" pneumoperitoneum was sometimes intentionally administered as a treatment for a hiatal hernia.
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A small spontaneous pneumothorax will typically resolve without treatment and requires only monitoring. [3] This approach may be most appropriate in people who have no underlying lung disease. [ 3 ] In a larger pneumothorax, or if there is shortness of breath, the air may be removed with a syringe or a chest tube connected to a one-way valve ...