Spontaneous Neonatal Pneumomediastinum: The “Spinnaker Sail” Sign

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare condition in the newborn, not associated with identifiable trauma or mechanical ventilation. It is diagnosed by a combination of physical examination and confirmatory chest radiograph, with various recognized signs identifiable in this condition. We report the case of a male neonate, who had pneumomediastinum confirmed by the presence of a windblown spinnaker sail sign and was managed conservatively. We also reviewed the literature.

Key words

neonatal - pneumomediastinum - spinnaker sign

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