Andrew A Ronald1, Dana Defta2, James Wright3, Brian Rothstein2. 1. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. 2. Department of Neurological Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. 3. Department of Neurological Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: James.Wright@uhhospitals.org.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pneumorrhachis, or air within the spinal canal, is most commonly associated with traumatic spinal injuries or spine surgery. Literature exists which has also demonstrated a link with pneumorrhachis and certain pulmonary diseases such as asthma, however, there are no previous reports of pneumorrhachis secondary to vaping-induced lung injury. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 15-year-old male with vaping-induced lung injury experienced acute respiratory decompensation after straining. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed bilateral pneumothoraces, extensive pneumomediastinum, and pneumorrhachis. Extensive air was seen in the spinal canal from the cervical spine down to the level of the T8 vertebrae. CONCLUSIONS: The emerging condition of vaping-induced lung injury may place patients at risk for serious complications of extra-pulmonary air including pneumorrhachis, and to our knowledge this is the first such report.
BACKGROUND:Pneumorrhachis, or air within the spinal canal, is most commonly associated with traumatic spinal injuries or spine surgery. Literature exists which has also demonstrated a link with pneumorrhachis and certain pulmonary diseases such as asthma, however, there are no previous reports of pneumorrhachis secondary to vaping-induced lung injury. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 15-year-old male with vaping-induced lung injury experienced acute respiratory decompensation after straining. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed bilateral pneumothoraces, extensive pneumomediastinum, and pneumorrhachis. Extensive air was seen in the spinal canal from the cervical spine down to the level of the T8 vertebrae. CONCLUSIONS: The emerging condition of vaping-induced lung injury may place patients at risk for serious complications of extra-pulmonary air including pneumorrhachis, and to our knowledge this is the first such report.
Authors: Abdirahman Mohamed Hassan Dirie; Nesrin Aydın; Abdinafic Mohamud Hussein; Ahmed Adam Osman; Abdullahi Abdi Ahmed Journal: Ann Med Surg (Lond) Date: 2022-02-05