Spontaneous pneumomediastinum as complication of an asthmatic crisis

Pneumomediastinum is an uncommon self-limited clinical entity which usually involves young adults. In asthmatic patients, the manifestation of pneumom ediastinum as complication of an asthmatic crisis is considered to be a rar e event, and its course is usually favourable wit scarce complications. We report here the main clinical and epidemiologic characteristics in four pat ients with pneumomediastinum secondary to an asthmatic exacerbation, admitt ed to the Neumology Department in our hospital for a three year period. The clinical course of our patients was favourable, and the picture resolved w ith conventional medical therapy for the asthmatic crisis.