Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit
05:56

Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit

Published on: September 6, 2024

The Macklin effect causing a pneumopericardium

Aravind Sekhar1, Prafull Raheja, Sohail Ikram

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.

Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine (Hagerstown, Md.)
|July 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Pleuropericarditis after blunt chest trauma is rare. This case highlights a tension pneumopericardium caused by a pleuro-pericardial communication, worsened by barotrauma, in a trauma patient.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Trauma Medicine

Background:

  • Pleuropericarditis is a recognized condition linked to various diseases.
  • However, its occurrence after blunt thoracic trauma is exceptionally uncommon and poses diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

  • A young male patient presented with acute dyspnea post-motor vehicle accident.
  • Physical examination and imaging revealed a pleuro-pericardial communication.

Findings:

  • The pleuro-pericardial communication was exacerbated by barotrauma.
  • This led to the development of a tension pneumopericardium, a critical condition.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering rare complications like tension pneumopericardium in patients with blunt thoracic trauma.
  • Early diagnosis and prompt management are crucial for favorable outcomes in such complex trauma cases.

More Related Videos

An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model07:15

An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model

Published on: September 2, 2021

Mouse Pneumonectomy Model of Compensatory Lung Growth09:22

Mouse Pneumonectomy Model of Compensatory Lung Growth

Published on: December 17, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology01:08

Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology

Pneumothorax means the presence of air in the pleural space — the thin potential gap between the visceral and parietal pleura. This condition disrupts the normal pressure balance that keeps the lungs inflated, leading to partial or complete collapse of the affected lung.Normal physiologyUnder normal conditions, the pleural space maintains a slightly negative intrapleural pressure, which keeps the lungs expanded against the chest wall. This negative pressure creates a delicate balance between...
Pneumothorax-I01:26

Pneumothorax-I

A pneumothorax is a condition where air builds up in the space between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. This condition arises when air enters the space between the parietal and visceral pleura, disrupting the negative pressure essential for lung inflation. This can lead to a partial or complete collapse of the lung.
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
Pericarditis I: Introduction01:22

Pericarditis I: Introduction

Pericarditis is defined as the inflammation of the pericardium, the thin, sac-like membrane surrounding the heart. This condition can cause significant chest pain and other symptoms, often necessitating medical intervention. The pericardium has two layers: the inner visceral layer and the outer parietal layer, separated by a small amount of fluid that reduces friction during heartbeats.Types of PericarditisPericarditis can be classified into several types based on the duration and nature of the...
Pneumothorax-II01:27

Pneumothorax-II

Pneumothorax is a medical condition defined by the buildup of air in the pleural space between the lungs and the chest wall. This accumulation of air can lead to partial or complete lung collapse, resulting in a range of clinical manifestations. Understanding the clinical presentation and effective management strategies is crucial for healthcare professionals in providing timely and appropriate care to individuals with pneumothorax.
Clinical Manifestations:
Atelectasis II: Pathophysiology01:10

Atelectasis II: Pathophysiology

Atelectasis develops when alveoli lose their air and collapse inward. Because lung tissue is naturally elastic, these air sacs shrink rather than remaining open. Collapsed alveoli are no longer ventilated, reducing their role in gas exchange. Blood flow may continue in these regions, creating a ventilation–perfusion mismatch. Clinical findings include decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, reduced chest expansion, and decreased tactile fremitus as sound transmission through collapsed...
Pericarditis III: Medical Management01:17

Pericarditis III: Medical Management

The primary objectives of managing pericarditis are to determine the underlying cause, provide effective therapy for treatment and symptom relief, and promptly detect signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade. The following outlines the essential aspects of medical management for pericarditis:ObjectivesDetermine the Cause: Identifying the underlying cause of pericarditis is crucial for targeted treatment. Causes include viral infections, autoimmune diseases, post-cardiac injury syndrome, and...