Spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema as a complication of asthma in children: case report and literature review

Background:Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is an uncommon disorder. It is rarely reported in paediatric patients and may be accompanied by subcutaneous emphysema. It is usually benign and self-limiting, with only supportive therapy being needed, but severe cases may require invasive measures. Asthma exacerbations have classically been described as a cause of SPM. However, detailed descriptions in asthmatic children are scarce. We aimed at improving the current understanding of the features of SPM and subcutaneous emphysema, and outcomes, by means of a case report and a systematic review.Methods:For the systematic review a literature search was performed in PubMed to identify reported ca…