Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Tension pneumomediastinum and coronary artery thrombosis (CAT) secondary to blunt polytrauma are, rare yet have the potential for serious complication. 

Case Report: A 40-year-old man presented to the emergency department following a motorcycle accident. He was found to have multiple orthopedic injuries, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum. An electrocardiogram showed myocardial infarction. He developed obstructive shock physiology that resolved with mediastinal percutaneous needle drainage. Subsequent coronary angiography revealed acute thrombosis of the left circumflex artery.

Conclusion: This is a rare case of traumatic tension pneumomediastinum associated with coronary artery thrombosis requiring coronary stenting. Emergency physicians should be mindful of CAT in the setting of blunt chest injury.