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Pneumopericardium in a patient with trisomy 21 and COVID-19 following emergency pericardiocentesis

Apurva H Bharucha1, Ritesh Kanyal1, James W Aylward2

  • 1Cardiology Research Fellow King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS.

The British Journal of Cardiology
|June 24, 2022
PubMed

Insights

A rare complication, pneumopericardium, occurred after emergency pericardiocentesis in a patient with COVID-19. This case highlights a potential risk associated with the procedure in critically ill patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to various cardiac complications.
  • Pericardial effusion is a recognized manifestation of severe COVID-19.
  • Emergency pericardiocentesis is a procedure to drain pericardial fluid, but carries inherent risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a unique case of pneumopericardium following pericardiocentesis.
  • To discuss the potential mechanisms and clinical implications of this complication in COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

  • Case report detailing a patient with COVID-19 who underwent emergency pericardiocentesis.
  • Review of clinical course, procedural details, and diagnostic findings.

Main Results:

  • Pneumopericardium was identified post-procedure in the described patient.
  • The patient's clinical course and management are detailed.

Conclusions:

  • Pneumopericardium is a potential, albeit rare, complication of emergency pericardiocentesis.
  • Careful consideration and monitoring are warranted in patients with COVID-19 undergoing this procedure.

Keywords:
cardiac tamponadecoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)pericardiocentesispneumopericardium

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