Two Cases of Tension Pneumopericardium in Mechanically Ventilated Preterm Infants.
10.5385/jksn.2011.18.1.153
- Author:
Se Hyun MAENG
1
;
Hyun Joo SEO
;
Jeonghee SHIN
;
Jimi JUNG
;
Jin Kyu KIM
;
Hye Soo YOO
;
So Yoon AHN
;
Eun Sun KIM
;
Yun Sil CHANG
;
Won Soon PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. wonspark@skku.edu
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Pneumopericardium;
Preterm infant;
Mechanical ventilator
- MeSH:
Humans;
Infant, Newborn;
Infant, Premature;
Needles;
Oxygen;
Pneumopericardium;
Ventilators, Mechanical
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Neonatology
2011;18(1):153-157
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Pneumopericardium is a rare form of neonatal air leakage. Tension pneumopericardium is much more infrequent, but can cause a cardiovascular deterioration with high mortality up to 80% and neurodevelopmental morbidity in half of the cases. We report two cases of preterm infants who successfully recovered from tension pneumopericardium that developed during mechanical ventilator assistance. The patients displayed a sudden increase in oxygen demand and subsequent cardiovascular deterioration. Immediate needle aspiration of the pneumopericardium performed after checking X-ray images rescued each of patient. Since the clinical symptoms are non-specific, clinicians' suspicion is most important when patients show sudden refractory cardiovascular collapse, especially in ventilator-assisted neonates. This life threatening complication demands instant diagnosis and intervention.
