Acute Pancreatitis and Severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis Presenting with Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum and Pneumothorax: A Complex Interplay of Multisystem Complications

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition, often triggered by infections or undiagnosed diabetes. Spontaneous pneu-momediastinum (SPM) and pneumothorax are rare but recognized complications of DKA, possibly due to alveolar rupture from increased respiratory effort or vomiting. Sometimes, acute pancreatitis (AP) may further complicate DKA, but the co-occurrence of these three conditions remains exceptionally rare. Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 60-year-old woman without a known history of diabetes who arrived at the emergency department with abdominal pain, fatigue, vomiting, and altered mental status. Initial laboratory findings showed metabolic acidosis, hyperglycemia, and ele-vated anion gap, consistent with DKA. Imaging revealed spontaneous pneumomedi-astinum and subsequently a left-sided pneumothorax, without evidence of trauma or esophageal rupture. Epigastric pain, along with elevated serum lipase and CT findings also confirmed an acute pancreatitis. Despite the complexity of her condition, the pa-tient responded well to supportive treatment, including oxygen therapy, fluid resusci-tation, insulin infusion, and antibiotics. She was discharged in good condition after 28 days, with a confirmed diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, without further complications. Conclusion: This case highlights an unusual combination of DKA complicated by spontaneous pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax and acute pancreatitis in a previ-ously undiagnosed diabetic patient. Because prompt intervention can lead to favorable outcomes even in complex, multisystem cases, early recognition of atypical DKA com-plications is critical in order to avoid misdiagnosis.