Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging

Korean Society of Echocardiography (한국심초음파학회)
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Pneumopericardium: A Rare Complication of Pericardiocentesis

  • Iskander, Slama (Department of Cardiology, Clinical Echocardiography Laboratory, Intercommunity Hospital of Southern Alps) ;
  • Amar, Hidoud (Department of Cardiology, Clinical Echocardiography Laboratory, Intercommunity Hospital of Southern Alps) ;
  • Audrey, Boudes (Department of Cardiology, Clinical Echocardiography Laboratory, Intercommunity Hospital of Southern Alps) ;
  • Fabien, Devemy (Department of Cardiology, Clinical Echocardiography Laboratory, Intercommunity Hospital of Southern Alps)
  • Received : 2015.06.17
  • Accepted : 2016.02.01
  • Published : 2016.03.27
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Abstract

Pneumopericardium is defined by the presence of air in the pericardial cavity. It is a rare entity occurring most commonly after trauma. Pneumopericardium resulting after pericardiocentesis is even rarer. We report a case of 46-year-old man, with end-stage renal disease on chronic hemodialysis and who developed a large circumferential pericardial effusion of 40 mm in diastole with swinging heart and diastolic right atrium collapse requiring pericardiocentesis. Few days after, the patient complained of pleuritic chest pain and echocardiogram revealed several tiny sparkling echogenic spots swirling in the pericardial sac. Computed tomography scans revealed a marked anterior pneumopericardium that was conservatively managed.

Keywords

References

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