Analysing the Clinical Features of Pneumomediastinum Associated with Diabetic Ketoacidosis in 79 Cases

Abstract

Objective

To analyse the clinical features of pneumomediastinum associated with DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) to improve clinicians’ understanding of the disease.

Methods

A total of 78 patients with pneumomediastinum associated with DKA were identified in the literature search, and one patient treated in our hospital was included. The clinical features of the 79 patients were retrospectively analysed, and the pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, treatment strategies and prognoses were explored.

Results

All cases were confirmed by chest CT (computed tomography), and Kussmaul respiration, severe vomiting, chest pain were common symptoms. The main treatment principle was to correct acidosis and treat the primary disease. The majority of patients recovered within 1–2 weeks, and only 2 patients died.

Conclusion

Pneumomediastinum associated with DKA is a rare disease, and it has a benign course when an early diagnosis is made and aetiological treatment is administered.

Keywords:

• pneumomediastinum
• diabetic ketoacidosis
• treatment
• diagnosis

Informed Consent

Written informed consent had been provided by the patient to have the case details and any accompanying images published. This was an observational case and institutional approval was not required, because all treatment received by this patient is conventional therapy. The other patients’ information in this article comes from the references.

Acknowledgments

The study was supported by a grant from the Henan Medical Science and Technology Research Program (no. 2018020567) as part of the Capital Characteristic Clinical Application Research project.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.