J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2001 Sep;12(3):354-358.

Spontaneous Pneumopericardium: A case Report

• Ahn JY
• Lee SL
• Ahn SH
• Ryu SY
• Kim HY

Abstract

Pneumopericardium, as a form of barotrauma, refers to the presence of air within the pericardial sac. The causes of pneumopericardium are various. Clinically, pneumopericardium is typically present with dyspnea and precordial chest pain. On physical examination, heart sounds are usually distant, and precordial tympany may be elicited. The diagnosis can be made by clinical and radiographic findings. Management of pneumopericardium depends on many factors, such as the age of the patient, the suspected causes, and the extent of clinically observed respiratory compromise. The case shown here, a patient who developed pneumopericardium, involved an associated underlying pulmonary parenchymal process as the cause of pneumopericardium.

Keyword

Pneumopericardium

MeSH Terms

Barotrauma
Chest Pain
Diagnosis
Dyspnea
Heart Sounds
Humans
Physical Examination
Pneumopericardium*