Spontaneous Pneumothorax and Pneumomediastinum in Pregnancy

Abstract

Spontaneous acute pneumothorax may occur as a result of spontanous rupture of subpleural blebs or bullae and it is extremely rare during pregnancy. Spontaneous acute pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum were diagnosed in a young pregnant woman admitted with the complaints of swelling and pain on her neck and upper thorax following 2 days' dyspnea. Nasal oxygen, analgesics and antiemetics were used as needed during ten days' hospitalisation. Physical findings, chest X-ray and oxygen saturation improved at the end of this period. Since supportive treatment was sufficient, invasive treatments such as surgery or thorax tube were not required. Although rare, pneumothoax should be remembered in any pregnant woman with dyspnea and chest-pain and must be confirmed radiographically to distinguish it from other diseases and conditions. In this report, a case of spontaneous acute pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum in a 10 week primigravida is presented.