Facial Oedema Is Not Always Angioedema: A Case of Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum with Subcutaneous Emphysema during COPD Exacerbation
  • Sarah Damanti
    School of Specialization in Geriatrics and Gerontology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
  • Francesca Rosini
    School of Specialization in Geriatrics and Gerontology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
  • Daniela Mari
    Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Clinical Sciences & Community Health, University of Milan
  • Maura Marcucci
    Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Clinical Sciences & Community Health, University of Milan

Keywords

Pneumomediastinum, COPD exacerbation, angioedema

Abstract

We report a case of acute facial oedema in an elderly hospitalized patient which was initially misdiagnosed as angioedema secondary to antibiotics in a patient with an allergic diathesis.

We describe the differential aetiologies and then the true cause of the oedema, which was an uncommon complication of a very common condition in the elderly: a pneumomediastinum with subcutaneous emphysema probably due to rupture of an emphysematous lung bulla during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation. Lastly, we focus on the therapeutic procedures instituted for the treatment of the pneumomediastinum.

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References

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    Published: 2015-10-28
    Issue: Vol. 2 No. 7 (2015) (view)

    How to cite:
    1.
    Damanti S, Rosini F, Mari D, Marcucci M. Facial Oedema Is Not Always Angioedema: A Case of Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum with Subcutaneous Emphysema during COPD Exacerbation. EJCRIM 2015;2 doi:10.12890/2015_000281.

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