Retropharyngeal Air and Pneumomediastinum: A Rare Complication of Influnenza A and Asthma in an Adult

A 27 year old female presented to our suburban emergency department (ED) complaining of shortness of breath, neck fullness, and right sided chest pain worsening over the past two days. The patient is a known asthmatic who was poorly controlled on her home regimen of an albuterol MDI. She was seen the day before at an urgent care facility and given a diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia and was started on a steroid taper, albuterol nebulizers, and clarithromycin. On initial presentation in the ED she was noted to be in severe respiratory distress, utilizing accessory muscles and sitting in the tripod position.

Source: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine - June 13, 2015 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Matthew Niehaus, Allison Rusgo, Kevin Roth, Jeanne L. Jacoby Tags: Case Report Source Type: research