Tension pneumopericardium in an infant.
Pneumopericardium in newborns is most often a complication of mechanical ventilation and frequently results in fatal cardiac tamponade. We report the case of a mechanically ventilated 33-day-old full-term gestation infant with interstitial pneumonitis who developed tension pneumopericardium. Treatment includes lowering peak inspiratory pressure and decompressing the pericardial space with tube drainage following pericardiocentesis.
Fiser
D H
DH
Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
Walker
W M
WM
D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011026:Pneumopericardium / Q000209:etiology*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*