title: Pneumopericardium due to intrapericardial perforation of a gastric ulcer.
abstract: A 88-year-old male patient presented with fever, singultus and retrosternal pain. After 8 days of antibiotic therapy not resulting in clinical improvement, he suddenly developed a pneumopericardium. Contrast swallow and endoscopy showed intrapericardial perforation of a benign gastric ulcer. Excision of the ulcer and suturing of both the stomach and the diaphragm as well as lavage of the pericardium were done over a left thoracotomy. The patient recovered uneventfully.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Hyperbaric Surgery, University Medical School of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, A-8036 Graz, Austria. sabine.gabor@kfunigraz.ac.at
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabor
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woltsche
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Smolle-Jüttner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010439:Peptic Ulcer Perforation / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D011026:Pneumopericardium / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery