Medical term:
pneumomediastinum
pneumomediastinum
[noo″mo-me″de-as-ti´num]the presence of air or gas in the mediastinum, which may interfere with respiration and circulation, and may lead to such conditions as pneumothorax or pneumopericardium. It may occur spontaneously or as a result of trauma or a pathologic process, or it may be induced deliberately as a diagnostic procedure.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
pneu·mo·me·di·as·ti·num
(nū'mō-mē'dē-ă-stī'nŭm),Abnormal presence of air in mediastinal tissues; multiple causes include pulmonary interstitial emphysema, ruptured bleb, perforation of the cervical or thoracic esophagus or airways, cervicomediastinal infection, and perforated abdominal viscus.
Synonym(s): mediastinal emphysema
[G. pneuma, air, + mediastinum]
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
mediastinal emphysema
The presence of air in mediastinal soft tissues.Clinical findings
Severe chest pain, dyspnoea, Hamman sign.
Aetiology
• Respiratory tract—trauma to lungs, perforation of upper airways, asthma, Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.
• GI tract—rupture of oesophagus, bowel.
• Other (e.g., obesity).
Management
Usually conservative, as emphysema slowly resolves on its own; in the face of lung collapse, the patient must lie on the side of the collapsed lung.
Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
pneumomediastinum
Mediastinal emphysema Critical care The presence of air in the mediastinum, either post-traumatic or induced during mediastinoscopy; the air may percolate into the thorax, resulting inpneumothorax, or into the pericardium, causing pneumopericardium. See Emphysema.
McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
pneu·mo·me·di·as·ti·num
(nū'mō-mē'dē-ă-stī'nŭm)Escape of air into mediastinal tissues, usually from interstitial emphysema or from a ruptured pulmonary bleb.
[G. pneuma, air, + mediastinum]
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
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