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Radiology. Cardiothoracic Imaging Dec 2020An esophagopericardial fistula is a rare complication of esophageal malignancy, trauma, or surgery. Imaging is a cornerstone of diagnosis, with detection of...
An esophagopericardial fistula is a rare complication of esophageal malignancy, trauma, or surgery. Imaging is a cornerstone of diagnosis, with detection of pneumopericardium or hydropneumopericardium at imaging raising suspicion for pyopneumopericardium and prompting immediate search for the causative pathologic process. Given the high associated mortality rate of over 50% for patients with esophagopericardial fistulas, early diagnosis and intervention are vital. Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2020.
PubMed: 33778644
DOI: 10.1148/ryct.2020200417 -
The Journal of Tehran Heart Center Jul 2019Air inside the pericardial cavity is called "pneumopericardium", which is a rare complication of pericardiocentesis. Pneumopericardium may resolve spontaneously or can...
Air inside the pericardial cavity is called "pneumopericardium", which is a rare complication of pericardiocentesis. Pneumopericardium may resolve spontaneously or can complicate into tension pericardium, requiring urgent aspiration. We herein describe a 55-year-old man with pericardial effusion who underwent pericardiocentesis. The patient was completely asymptomatic after the procedure. Chest radiograph and computed tomography scan accidentally detected pneumopericardium, which was subsequently complicated by atrial fibrillation and necessitated pharmacological cardioversion. We found no case of asymptomatic pneumopericardium complicated by atrial fibrillation after pericardiocentesis in our literature review. Clinicians and cardiologists should do a post pericardiocentesis chest X-ray to diagnose pneumopericardium and prevent the catastrophic complications of tension pneumopericardium.
PubMed: 31998390
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Surgery Case... 2020Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is a rare condition classified as free air in the mediastinum in the absence of any precipitating cause. This is the first time that...
INTRODUCTION
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is a rare condition classified as free air in the mediastinum in the absence of any precipitating cause. This is the first time that a synchronous presence of pneumopericardium is described. To date, there are no clear guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.
PRESENTATION OF A CASE
A 34-year old Caucasian male patient presented to our institution with a recently diagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma. He underwent an uneventful pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure). Preoperative and intraoperative chest X-Ray after a central line placement were normal. The postoperative course was uneventful, but few hours before his discharge he presented an acute tachycardia and tachypnea with hypocapnia and a transient loss of consciousness. The full-body CT scan revealed a pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium without any findings of anastomotic leak or other pathology from the abdomen. A meticulous review of the literature was conducted about the pathophysiology, treatment options and outcomes of pneumomediastinum after a surgical procedure.
DISCUSSION
This is the first study presenting the case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum with a synchronous pneumopericardium in the literature as a late complication of Whipple procedure. The applied diagnostic algorithm and conservative treatment are presented to extend our limited knowledge about this rare medical entity.
CONCLUSION
Awareness of these medical entities is important for the adequate management and optimal outcome of patients presenting a spontaneous pneumomediastinum. As such, all cases, treatment decisions and outcomes should be reported.
PubMed: 32428828
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.04.012 -
Clinical Case Reports Dec 2021ST elevations on electrocardiogram (ECG) have a broad differential diagnosis that can vary from benign to more ominous pathologies. These include early repolarization,...
ST elevations on electrocardiogram (ECG) have a broad differential diagnosis that can vary from benign to more ominous pathologies. These include early repolarization, coronary vasospasm, acute pericarditis, ST-elevation myocardial infarction, ventricular aneurysms, and dissecting aneurysm of the aorta reaching the pericardium. ST-segment changes may also provide a clue to the presence of spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM). These ECG changes are seldom reported in literature. We describe two SPM cases with concomitant pneumopericardium that closely mimicked acute pericarditis with a deceptive clinical spectrum.
PubMed: 34917373
DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.5156 -
International Journal of Surgery... Aug 2018Aim of this study is to report and to analyze the incidence, clinical impact and treatment options of ectopic air localizations after transanal procedures. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Aim of this study is to report and to analyze the incidence, clinical impact and treatment options of ectopic air localizations after transanal procedures.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The research was carried out using the PubMed database, identifying 40 articles with the following keywords: "transanal" AND "emphysema"; "transanal" AND "subcutaneous emphysema"; "transanal" AND "pneumomediastinum"; "transanal" AND "pneumothoraces"; "transanal" AND "pneumopericardium"; "transanal" AND "retropneumoperitoneum".
RESULTS
Nineteen articles, published between 1993 and 2017, were included in the study for a total of 29 patients. The most frequent air localization was in the retroperitoneum, followed by subcutaneous tissues, mediastinum and neck. This condition was treated conservatively in 20 patients, with colostomy in 4 patients, with bowel resection and negative diagnostic laparoscopy in one patient each. In three cases the treatment was not specified. Ectopic air location resolved in all cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Pneumo-mediastinum and pneumo-retroperitoneum after transanal procedures are unusual complications with a dramatic radiological appearance but can be managed successfully with a completely benign course in most cases. Initially, a conservative approach is recommended. Surgical treatment should be reserved only in case of fluid collection or suture dehiscence.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Mediastinal Emphysema; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Radiography; Retropneumoperitoneum; Subcutaneous Emphysema; Transanal Endoscopic Surgery
PubMed: 29936199
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2018.05.743 -
BMJ Case Reports Oct 2011A 21-year-old man presented to the emergency department with pain and swelling to the right side of his neck and chest wall with associated shortness of breath. Two days...
A 21-year-old man presented to the emergency department with pain and swelling to the right side of his neck and chest wall with associated shortness of breath. Two days earlier, while playing football, he had been involved in a minor collision with another player where he was struck on the right side of his head, but had managed to continue playing. On examination, the patient had extensive cervical surgical emphysema. There were no further positive findings on respiratory and general examination. A chest x-ray demonstrated no rib or clavicular fractures and no pneumothorax. Therefore, a CT was undertaken to ascertain the cause of the surgical emphysema. This demonstrated a pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium and extradural air in the spinal column in addition to the subcutaneous air. The CT identified no bony trauma and no other injuries. The symptoms resolved spontaneously and follow-up radiography, 9 days later, showed no residual air.
Topics: Adult; Dyspnea; Edema; Humans; Male; Mediastinal Emphysema; Neck Pain; Pneumopericardium; Radiography; Soccer; Subcutaneous Emphysema; Thoracic Wall; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Young Adult
PubMed: 22675022
DOI: 10.1136/bcr.09.2011.4840 -
The Journal of Invasive Cardiology Nov 2020Iatrogenic pneumopericardium after pericardiocentesis due to accidental leakage from the side port of the sheath has been reported in the literature. In the present...
Iatrogenic pneumopericardium after pericardiocentesis due to accidental leakage from the side port of the sheath has been reported in the literature. In the present case, it occurred during passage of the guidewire. Every step needs to be done meticulously. The patient should be advised not to take a deep breath during the puncture.
Topics: Humans; Iatrogenic Disease; Pericardiocentesis; Pneumopericardium
PubMed: 33130598
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Comparative Pathology May 2024Air leak syndrome (ALS) is described in human medicine as a constellation of clinical disorders including pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, pulmonary interstitial...
Air leak syndrome (ALS) is described in human medicine as a constellation of clinical disorders including pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, pulmonary interstitial emphysema, pneumothorax, pneumoperitoneum, pneumoretroperitoneum and subcutaneous emphysema. The pathogenesis of ALS depends on the anatomy of the mediastinum and its associations with thoracic, abdominal and cervical connective tissues, as well as a physical phenomenon referred to as the Macklin effect. Various animal species develop diverse combinations of these lesions, although ALS has not been recognized in animals. However, this term aids pathologists in addressing this disease compilation. The aim of this retrospective study is to illustrate examples of ALS in animals by arbitrarily selecting 13 cases in dogs, cats, pinnipeds, sea otters and harbour porpoises. ALS can be classified into three groups based on aetiology: iatrogenic, secondary or spontaneous. Iatrogenic ALS was diagnosed in two cats with tracheal laceration following endotracheal intubation. Secondary ALS was identified in two dogs, one with acute respiratory distress syndrome and the other due to grass awn migration. Secondary ALS in pinnipeds was diagnosed following severe pulmonary parasitism, uraemic pneumonia and oesophageal perforation. The other marine mammals developed ALS following trauma. Spontaneous ALS was also diagnosed in one cat and one dog without any apparent predisposing causes.
Topics: Animals; Cats; Pneumothorax; Dogs; Mediastinal Emphysema; Retrospective Studies; Cat Diseases; Dog Diseases; Female; Male; Subcutaneous Emphysema; Pneumoperitoneum
PubMed: 38776614
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2024.04.005 -
Cureus May 2021Novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has been one of the largest and most devastating global pandemics of our time. There have been several complications of this disease...
Novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has been one of the largest and most devastating global pandemics of our time. There have been several complications of this disease that have also proven to be debilitating and deadly. While primarily affecting the respiratory system, some cases presented with uncommon complications such as pneumopericardium and spontaneous pneumothorax. We present a case of an elderly female diagnosed with COVID-19 found to have both spontaneous pneumothorax and pneumopericardium. She had a complicated hospital course and ultimately succumbed to her illness. While the pathogenesis of these conditions is not yet fully understood, further studies are needed to help clinicians develop treatment and prevention strategies to improve patient outcomes.
PubMed: 34113499
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.14861 -
Case Reports in Oncology 2020Pneumopericardium is a relatively rare entity mostly described in the literature as a result of causes such as penetrating/blunt trauma and iatrogenic causes during...
Pneumopericardium is a relatively rare entity mostly described in the literature as a result of causes such as penetrating/blunt trauma and iatrogenic causes during cardiothoracic procedures. We are presenting a case of pneumopericardium as a complication of progressed gastroesophageal junction tumor along with a literature review of all cancer-related pneumopericardium cases reported in the last decade. We present the case of a 65-year-old male with a past medical history significant for locally advanced gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who presented to the hospital with complaints of shortness of breath and fever. A chest X-ray showed an intact esophageal stent along with radiolucency around the cardiac silhouette which suggested pneumopericardium. Computed tomography scan of the chest confirmed the presence of pneumopericardium in posterior pericardium with foci of gas above the esophageal stent likely to be communicating with the pericardium. An echocardiogram was obtained which showed no signs of tamponade. Given the advanced nature of the disease we applied a conservative management given that the pneumopericardium was deemed to be small with no tamponade. Goals of care were discussed with the patient and his family and the patient opted for comfort care measures. This case report prompted us to perform an extensive literature review of cancer-related pneumopericardium from 2008 to 2019. We found 11 cases where it was reported secondary to malignancies of different kinds. Our aim is to compile a review for clinicians to view varied presentations and better direct therapy dependent on the individual case and clinical presentation in patients with cancer-related pneumopericardium. Moreover, although pneumopericardium is rare, it should be considered in differential diagnosis in patients presenting with shortness of breath or chest pain especially with cancers involving the cardiothoracic region.
PubMed: 32110216
DOI: 10.1159/000504935