Pneumomediastinum associated with inhalation of white smoke

Hexachloroethane (HC) smoke, also known as white smoke, is an obscurant use d in numerous military situations. Many adverse health effects are associat ed with the use of white smoke, some of which are potentially life threaten ing. Inhalation is the most frequent route of injury. Two deaths among U.S. Army personnel resulted from HC smoke exposure in 1988. As recently as 199 7, a United Nations soldier in Bosnia died after an HC smoke canister was d ischarged in his tent. Injuries are predominantly pulmonary and range from cough and dyspnea to chemical pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and adult respi ratory distress syndrome. In the case presented, a soldier developed pneumo mediastinum after exposure to HC smoke. This is the first case reported in the literature of pneumomediastinum associated with HC smoke inhalation.