Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: A report of two cases at a district general hospital.

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare condition thought to be caused by excessive Valsalva manoeuvre during the second stage of labour. Women with pneumomediastinum typically presents with chest pain or tightness, dyspnoea, and a tearing sensation around the neck. It is commonly diagnosed with a chest radiograph but further imaging may be necessary to exclude more sinister conditions with similar clinical features. We describe two cases of pneumomediastinum and the different management approaches with different multi-disciplinary input. It is often a self-limiting condition. We propose a management algorithm for women suspected to have pneumomediastinum during the intrapartum and postpartum period.