Mediastinal emphysema is the entry of air into the connective tissue space within the mediastinal pleura, with twisting and subcutaneous snow grip sensation on examination in the neck and suprasternal fossa, and the patient may have symptoms of chest tightness, shortness of breath, and retrosternal pain. Common causes are spontaneous, esophageal perforation, chest trauma, and medical factors. Treatment mainly gives oxygen, antibiotics, pain relief, exhaust and other general treatment and etiologic treatment.
1. Spontaneous mediastinal emphysema is mostly caused by rupture of alveoli and tiny bronchioles, resulting in air entering the mediastinum along the perivascular sheaths of the lungs, and the clinical symptoms are relatively mild, so it is sufficient to give general treatment.
2. Esophageal perforation is commonly caused by foreign body in the esophagus, spontaneous rupture of the esophagus, etc. It is often accompanied by pleural effusion or pus chest.
3. Chest trauma can cause bronchial or esophageal rupture, which is generally more serious and requires emergency treatment.
4. Medical factors: mediastinoscopy and tracheoscopy, neck surgery, gastrointestinal perforation, perinephric insufflation contrast or artificial pneumoperitoneum, etc. can cause mediastinal emphysema, the clinical symptoms are relatively mild, and most of them can be treated with general treatment.
Mediastinal emphysema is recommended to go to the thoracic surgery department of the hospital for further consultation or treatment.