ABSTRACT
Pneumomediastinum can be primary (spontaneous) or secondary to iatrogenic, traumatic, and non-traumatic causes. The incidence of spontaneous and secondary pneumomediastinum is higher in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) compared to the general population. So, pneumomediastinum should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient with COVID-19 presenting with chest pain and breathlessness. A high level of suspicion is required to diagnose this condition promptly. Unlike in other disease conditions, pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 has a complicated course with higher mortality in intubated patients. No guidelines exist for managing pneumomediastinum patients with COVID-19. Therefore, emergency physicians should be aware of the various treatment modalities besides conservative management for pneumomediastinum and life-saving interventions for tension pneumomediastinum.
ABSTRACT
Cardiac arrest in pregnancy is an uncommon encounter, with the incidence being one in every 12,000 hospital admissions for delivery. Here we present, one such patient and our experience in managing the patient. A 23-year-old, third-trimester pregnant female presented with a history of polytrauma following a road traffic accident. On initial assessment, she was in cardiac arrest. We initiated high-quality cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as per advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) protocol. We also performed a perimortem cesarean section within four minutes of cardiac arrest. A male baby was delivered who did not have any signs of life. Neonatal resuscitation was initiated. However, both the mother and the child could not be revived. Cardiac arrest in pregnancy is a unique scenario in resuscitation, and all emergency physicians should know the key highlights in managing such patients. We review some existing literature and pose some queries that are yet to be answered.
