Hamman syndrome

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum or Hamman’s syndrome refers to the presence of air in the mediastinal compartment in the absence of trauma or medical-surgical procedures. It is related in more than half of the cases to asthmatic crisis as a triggering factor. We present the clinical case of a 15-year-old male, admitted to the Emergency Department for chest pain and dyspnea; and, in the examination, the presence of subcutaneous emphysema in the neck and supraclavicular region plus expiratory and inspiratory wheezing in the lungs. Thoracic radiography and tomography showed pneumomediastinum. Once therapy was instituted, the patient evolved favorably and was discharged.