CJEM Articles: pneumothorax

Patients often present to the emergency department following a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, particularly of new onset. Complications associated with seizures usually arise from injuries sustained from loss of consciousness or during convulsive activity. This report describes a patient with an idiopathic seizure who developed postictal alveolar edema and delayed bilateral pneumothoraces and pneumomediastinum. A literature search revealed only 1 other case of this potentially life-threatening pulmonary complication from seizures.