Pneumomediastinum in a cannabis smoker precipitated by vigorous sexual intercourse

Abstract

Primary pneumomediastinum is the presence of air in the interstitium of the mediastinum. The exact aetiology is unclear; nevertheless, it has been reported more frequently in patients with asthma and in individuals who use recreational drugs. It is commonly preceded by a sharp rise in intrathoracic pressure as in a Valsalva-like manoeuvre. We describe a rare case of severe pneumomediastinum with a small pneumothorax related to cannabis smoking and aggravated by vigorous sexual intercourse. The patient was successfully treated conservatively due to clinical and radiological stability and the absence of secondary cause.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema after masturbation

“…Except for history of mild, non-acute asthma no inciting factors were noticed in our patient. There are only a few reports of SPM related to sexual activity and we could not find any cases associated with autoeroticism, which makes our case unusual [13] , [14] , [15] .…”