Abstract
Pneumomediastinum (PM), or a mediastinal air leak, is a known morbidity in neonates.
Among predisposing factors, the most significant are mixed lung diseases, such as
pneumonia or meconium aspiration syndrome, with coexisting atelectasis and airway
obstruction. We report an unusual presentation of significant spontaneous pneumomediastinum
in a term newborn delivered by elective cesarean section with no history of active
resuscitation at birth.
Timely diagnosis of SPM is important for both management and prognosis. We believe
that lung ultrasound (LUS) is a promising screening tool for early detection of PM
in neonates, and could help avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation in delicate neonates.
More simultaneous studies comparing chest X-ray (CXR), LUS, and computed tomography
(CT) scans may help to prove the utility value of point-of-care ultrasounds as a primary
diagnostic tool in identifying this morbidity.
Keywords
neonate - pneumomediastinum - lung ultrasound - chest radiography - computerized tomography
scan
