Tension pneumomediastinum is a rare, but life-threatening cause of tamponade. Mechanical ventilation is a described source of tension pneumomediastinum. Here, we present a case of a 72-year-old man who developed cardiovascular collapse from tension pneumomediastinum in the setting of COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome. We successfully performed bedside mediastinotomy and mediastinal tube placement under local anesthetic to alleviate his hemodynamic instability. Bedside mediastinotomy can be used to relieve tension pneumomediastinum in this setting.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.