Two cases of tension pneumopericardium following blunt chest injury.
Tension pneumopericardium is uncommon in blunt trauma, and only rare survivors have been reported. We report two patients who survived tension pneumopericardium following blunt trauma. Both patients experienced signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade that were corrected by insertion of a subxyphoid pericardial tube. Both survived all injuries and returned to normal activities with normal neurologic function.
Trauma Service, Harris Methodist Fort Worth, Texas 76104.
S
S
Hudgens
J
J
McGraw
M
M
Craun
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011026:Pneumopericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011859:Radiography; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*