Bilateral pneumothorax, surgical emphysema and pneumomediastinum in a young male patient following MDMA intake.
Nonyelum Evangeline Obiechina, Ahrane Jayakumar, Yusra Khan, James Bass
BMJ Case Reports April 7, 2018 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-223103 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A young man who took ecstasy |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Respiratory medicine |
| Key findings | A young man developed bilateral pneumothorax, surgical emphysema, and pneumomediastinum after taking ecstasy, a rare complication more commonly associated with cocaine use. The authors present this case to highlight that MDMA can cause serious respiratory and mediastinal adverse effects. |
Abstract
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or 'Ecstasy' is an illicit drug frequently used by young people at parties and 'raves'. It is readily available in spite of the fact that it is illegal.1 It is perceived by a lot of young people as being 'harmless', but there have been a few high-profile deaths associated with its use.2 Known side effects of MDMA include hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis, coagulopathy and cardiac arrhythmias.3 Rarer side effects include surgical emphysema and pneumomediastinum, which have been better described with cocaine abuse.4-6 We present a case of bilateral pneumothorax, surgical emphysema and pneumomediastinum in a young man after taking ecstasy.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy'. A report of five deaths associated with the use of MDEA and MDMA Individuals whose deaths were associated with MDMA or MDEA use | 1987 | Case series | n = 5 |
| Pathology of deaths associated with "ecstasy" and "eve" misuse. Young white men aged 20 to 25 who died after using ring-substituted amphetamines (MDMA... | 1996 | Case series | n = 7 |
| 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy' Individuals who died after using MDMA or MDEA | 1987 | Case series | n = 5 |
| A Method of Conducting Therapeutic Sessions with MDMA Clients with clear therapeutic purpose, excluding those with serious functional... | 1998 | Case study | n = 2 |
| Diversity of Psychopathology Associated with use of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (‘Ecstasy’) Psychiatric patients presenting between 1990 and 1992 whose symptoms developed in the... | 1994 | Case series | n = 13 |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- Ecstasy induced pneumomediastinum. Thorax September 1, 1996
- The pharmacology and clinical pharmacology of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy"). Pharmacological Reviews September 2003
- Pneumomediastinum following Ecstasy (methylenedioxymetamphetamine, MDMA) ingestion in two people at the same 'rave'. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology January 2002