Massive Air Leak Syndrome During High Flow Oxygen Therapy and a Rare Complication: Pneumorrhachis

Pulmonary air leak syndrome is the escape of air from the lungs into the extra alveolar spaces in which it is not normally present. The most common causes of air leakage are acute asthma exacerbations, Valsalva maneuvers (e. g., lifting heavy objects, blowing balloons, straining), sudden and severe coughing attacks, crying, screaming, vomiting, diabetic ketoacidosis (hyperpnea), and foreign body aspiration (Mumford AD et al., BMJ 1996; 313: 1619, Forshaw MJ et al., Surg today. 2007; 37: 888–892, Wong KS et al., Pediatr Emerg Care. 2013; 29: 988–991), and the symptoms and signs vary according to where the air accumulates.