Rare case of pneumorrhachis, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and surgical emphysema secondary to bronchial asthma

Abstract

Parag Suresh Mahajan,1 Nasser Jassim Al Maslamani,1 Nishan K Purayil2 1Department of Radiology, 2Accident and Emergency Department, Al Khor Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar Abstract: Air localized within the spinal canal is called pneumorrhachis. In the case of pneumorrhachis, air can be present in the extradural, the intradural, or the subarachnoid space of the spinal canal. The air within the soft tissue of the posterior mediastinum may dissect along fascial planes, through the intervertebral neural foramina, and into the extradural or the subarachnoid space. Nontraumatic pneumorrhachis is a rare presentation. Most of the time, pneumorrhachis is asymptomatic, remains localized, and resolves spontaneously. There are very few reports of combined presence of pneumomediastinum and extradural pneumorrhachis not associated with thoracic injury in the published literature. We report a rare case of pneumorrhachis, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and surgical emphysema in an adult female patient developed after a bout of violent cough related to bronchial asthma. Keywords: pneumorrhachis, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, surgical emphysema, asthma