Pneumopericardium: a rare cause of cardiac tamponade in an infant on a positive pressure ventilation.
Cardiac tamponade most commonly results from accumulation of blood, or other fluids, within the pericardial sac. However, rarely air tamponade can lead to tension pneumopericardium and death. Positive pressure ventilation in infants carries a risk of barotrauma and presents as pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum or rarely pneumopericardium. We present an infant with cardiac tamponade due to pneumopericardium to illustrate the classical signs and symptoms, and the management of this rare condition.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
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A
el Gamel
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P
Barrett
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G
Kopff
D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010491:Pericardial Window Techniques; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000009:adverse effects*