Postpartum spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema: Hamman's syndrome

Abstract

This is a case report of a spontaneous pneumomediastinum and surgical emphysema in a 32-year-old woman presenting a few hours after forceps vaginal delivery with symptoms of chest tightness, shortness of breath and swelling in the neck, which resolved with conservative management. It is a rare but potentially dangerous complication of labour, which can be accurately diagnosed with clinical features and chest X-ray. The treatment is conservative as it is usually self-limiting and recurrence in subsequent pregnancies is extremely rare.