Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Pneumopericardium
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Pneumopericardium is a medical condition where air enters the pericardial cavity and a well-recognized clinical and radiologic entity. [2] It can be congenital, or introduced by a wound.
Differential Diagnosis of Underlying Causes
Differential Diagnosis of Underlying Causes
- Congenital diseases
- Surgery
- Penetrating trauma
- Blunt trauma (rare)
- Infectious pericarditis with gas-producing organisms
- Fistula formation between the pericardium and an adjacent air-containing organ (i.e. stomach or esophagus))
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Chest X-Ray
- The heart partially or completely surrounded by air, with the pericardium sharply outlined by air density on either side.
- Pneumopericardium can usually be distinguished from pneumomediastinum, since air in the pericardial sac should not rise above the anatomic limits of the pericardial reflexion on the proximal great vascular pedicle. Also on radiographs obtained with the patient in the decubitus position, air in the pericardial sac will shift immediately, while air in the mediastinum will not shift in a short interval between films.
- Occasionally, it may not be possible to distinguish pneumopenicardium from pneumomediastinum on plain film.
Examples
Examples
References
References
- ↑ Konijn AJ, Egbers PH, Kuiper MA (2008). “Pneumopericardium should be considered with electrocardiogram changes after blunt chest trauma: a case report”. J Med Case Reports. 2: 100. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-100. PMC 2323010. PMID 18394149.
- ↑ SE Mirvis, M Indeck, RM Schorr, and JN Diaconis. Posttraumatic tension pneumopericardium: the “small heart” sign. Radiology 1986 158: 663-669.
External Links
External Links
- Goldminer: Pneumopericardium
- Template:NormanAnatomy
- http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/thoracicsurgeryvolII/chapter2figure19.jpg
Template:Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period Template:Injuries, other than fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains Template:SIB
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