Het Teken Van Hamman (pneumomediastinum-pneumopericard)

Summary

Three cases of pneumomediastinum or pneumopericardium are reported. This condition presents as an acute syndrome of chest pain and shortness of breath, often mimicking an acute myocardial infarction, pericarditis or pulmonary embolism. It is caused by air entrapped within the mediastinum or pericardium, and mostly occurs spontaneously. The pathognomonic radiologic sign is a radiolucent area around the cardiovascular silhouette.

Attention is drawn to the typical auscultatory finding of pneumomediastinum or pneumopericardium, which is called the Hamman sign: a loud gurgling or splashing metallic sound in the precordial area, often noticed by the patient and even at a distance, synchronous with the heart beat.

The course is most often benign, spontaneous resolution occuring within a few days, although relapses are possible.