Aeromedical evacuation in patients with airleak syndromes

Case Presentation: We report a 7 ½ year old boy who presented to a small regional hospital with dyspnea, productive cough, wheezing and finally few hours of severe anterior chest pain. Clinical assessment revealed a bronchial obstruction and a subcutaneous emphysema. A chest X-ray showed hyperinflation, a pneumopericardium with pneumothorax and confirmed the subcutaneous emphysema. Discussion: The presence of free air in the thoracic cavity such as a pneumothorax or a pneumopericardium has been stated as a contraindication for air transport. Nevertheless, the referring general practitioner without experience of…