Spontaneous Pneumopericardium in a U.S. Marine: Do not Lose Heart

We report an unusual case of extensive subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, and pneumopericardium identified in an otherwise healthy U.S. Marine who was enrolled in the Marine Corps School of Infantry. His training regimen included prolonged periods of yelling and elevation changes during sustained hiking through hilly terrain. The patient presented to the Fast Track with normal vital signs but complained of dyspnea, cough, and subjective fevers. Although he lacked a history of trauma, he was found to have pneumopericardium, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema without pneumothorax. He was admitted to the general surgery service for observation and was ultimately released back to his unit after 24 hours. To our knowledge, pneumopericardium has never been attributed to persistent yelling in the setting of a lower respiratory tract infection and should be considered in the differential of atraumatic chest symptomatology in otherwise healthy military service members.