title: Placement of pericardial drainage tube for the treatment of pneumopericardium in the neonate.
abstract: A method for resolving the life-threatening complication of neonatal pneumopericardium is described. In patients suspected of having this complication, needle aspiration of the pericardial sac should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Then a tube should be inserted directly into the sac, attached to continuous-suction drainage, and allowed to remain in place until positive end-expiratory pressure is discontinued. The technique has not been associated with morbidity, mortality, or recurrence of pneumopericardium.
mesh_terms: D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000601:surgery*; D011026:Pneumopericardium / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects