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BMC Pediatrics
Published in: BMC Pediatrics 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Case report

Sail sign in neonatal pneumomediastinum: a case report

Authors: Stephen Sze Shing Teo, Archana Priyadarshi, Kathryn Browning Carmo

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Pneumomediastinum is an uncommon cause of neonatal respiratory distress. Clinical history and examination of the neonate may be uninformative in determining the aetiology of the respiratory distress. Chest x-ray can be diagnostic of pneumomediastinum however is often difficult to interpret.

Case presentation

A 36 week gestation newborn was delivered by emergency caesarean section, intubated and given intermittent positive pressure ventilation via Neopuff™ for apnoea before being extubated to CPAP. Chest radiography initially showed bilateral upper zone opacities, presenting a diagnostic dilemma; however subsequent films demonstrated a pneumomediastinum which was managed conservatively and resolved.

Conclusions

The “sail sign” describes an uncommon radiological appearance of a pneumomediastinum in neonates and infants. With careful conservative management, a spontaneous resolution without longterm sequelae can be expected.
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Metadata
Title
Sail sign in neonatal pneumomediastinum: a case report
Authors
Stephen Sze Shing Teo
Archana Priyadarshi
Kathryn Browning Carmo
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-019-1397-7

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