Pneumopericardium and pneumomediastinum have been described as complications of endotracheal intubation and assisted ventilation in neonates and children. Here the occurrence of these complications in an adult is described and the possible mechanism discussed.

A patient with complete atrioventricular block was fitted with a temporary endocardial pacing wire via a right subclavian percutaneous approach. The result was initially satisfactory, but within a few days radiography for left-sided chest pain showed pneumopericardium. A permanent epicardial pacing system was therefore substituted and she remained well for three months. She was then admitted fo...

Pneumopericardium is a rare disease defined as the presence of air or gas in the pericardial sac. Among the etiological factors, the following stand out: chest trauma, barotrauma, air-containing fistulas between the pericardium and the surrounding structures, secondary gas production by microorganisms growing in the pericardial sac, and iatrogenic factors. Until now, spontaneous pneumopericardi...

A 62-yr-old man was transferred to our institution with blunt chest trauma after being pinched between a car and a wall. Chest computed tomography revealed left-sided rib fractures, bilateral pneumothorax, and pneumopericardium, but no displacement of the heart. The pneumopericardium caused us to suspect a tear in the pericardium. Since the left pneumothorax was slightly more marked than the ri...