抄録
Four cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SP) are reported. Severe cough induced SP in the first case, violent vomiting in the second case, jogging with underlying SLE and pulmonary fibrosis in the third case, and a back contusion with closed vocal cords in the fourth case. In second case, spontaneous rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave's syndrome) was suspected and surgery was performed, but the findings were negative. Gastrografin swallow is essential to rule out Boerhaave's syndrome. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy can be recommended to rule out a traumatic respiratory tract injury. SP is usually a benign, self-limited disease of young men and parturient women and frequently occurs with no apparent precipitating cause. Supportive care is usually effective.
