PNEUMOMEDIASTINUM AND PNEUMOPERICARDIUM DUE TO MACKLIN EFFECT – A CASE REPORT

Pneumomediastinum (PM) with pneumopericardium and subcutaneous emphysema is an uncommon finding following blunt trauma to the neck or chest. Traumatic Pneumomediastinum occurs in 10 % of cases of blunt trauma to chest. Most of the cases are due to alveolar rupture and leak of air from the pneumothorax, rest are due to Macklin effect. CT scan is the primary imaging modality to detect pneumomediasinum at an earlier stage that can be life threatening. We present here a case of 45 years old male with alleged history of road traffic accident with fracture first rib who developed pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium and subcutaneous emphysema due to Macklin effect without associated pneumothorax which resolved spontaneously on conservative management