Tension pneumopericardium in blunt multi-system trauma in a resource limited setting

Pneumopericardium is defined as the presence of air within the pericardial sac. Pneumopericardium is a rare condition that may occur secondary to blunt trauma, penetrating trauma, pericardial infection with gas-forming organisms, or iatrogenically. Tension pneumopericardium is even less common and is defined as pneumopericardium that leads to hemodynamic instability. Despite its severity and a mortality rate of greater than 50%, the optimal management of tension pneumopericardium is unknown because of its rarity. We discuss the identification, stabilization, and management options of this potentially devastating traumatic injury in the setting of multisystem trauma in a resource-limited setting. There are no previous case reports we are aware of describing the management of this condition in resource-limited settings.