Open AccessPneumomediastinum after acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chemotherapy?
Author(s) -
Alain Cruz-Portelles
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
world journal of clinical cases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.368
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2307-8960
DOI - 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i5.170
Subject(s) - medicine , pneumomediastinum , subcutaneous emphysema , chemotherapy , lymphoblastic leukemia , intensive care unit , respiratory failure , surgery , pediatrics , leukemia , intensive care medicine , complication
Pneumomediastinum, pneumorachis and subcutaneous emphysema are frequently benign and most commonly result from air escaping from the upper respiratory tract, intrathoracic airways, or gastrointestinal tract. Gas can also be generated by certain infections or reach the mediastinal space from outside air after trauma or surgery. In the article presented by Showkat et al a 14-year-old male patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) under chemotherapy developed pneumomediastinum, pneumorachis and subcutaneous emphysema. In the author's opinion, these complications were caused by ALL or chemotherapy that progressed to severe respiratory failure until the patient finally died in the intensive care unit. I would like to underline some important points, which have been raised following a paper published in the October issue of World Journal of Clinical Cases.