A Case Series of Pneumomediastinum with Subcutaneous Emphysema Induced by Noninvasive Ventilation

Abstract Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is frequently utilized in the management of respiratory failure, particularly in cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and other acute respiratory conditions. Although generally safe, NIV can occasionally result in serious complications such as pneumomediastinum (PM) and subcutaneous emphysema (SE). PM, the presence of air in the mediastinum, can develop due to alveolar rupture caused by elevated airway pressures. This case series reports four instances of PM with associated SE, all induced by NIV in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.