engleski

Asymptomatic pneumopericardium after blunt chest trauma

A 49-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room after a fall from a height of 4 m. He was conscious with intact neurological status and stabile vital function. Blunt chest trauma was presented with left side rib fractures (3-6), ipsilateral lung base contusion, pneumo- liqidothorax, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneus emphysema. A computed tomographic scan also confirmed pneumopericardium. Negative Hamman’s sign were presented. Although the patient had no symptoms, the presence of pneumopericardium might be a sign of severe injury and indicates the potential risk of cardiac tamponade and a lifethreatening condition. In the presence of pneumopericardium, cardiac tamponade could be triggered secondary by mechanical ventilation support. In our case report, we would like to stress the importance of early diagnostic of asympthomatic pneumopericardium after blunt chest trauma, which may be decisive in choosing the optimal therapeutic procedure.

Pneumopericardium ; Tension pneumopericardium ; Blunt trauma ; Pneumomediastinum

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