Thoracic Transillumination: Aid in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pneumopericardium

Abstract

A frequent complication of continuous positive airway pressure and mechanical ventilation used to treat neonates who have hyaline membrane disease and other forms of respiratory distress is an air leak from alveolar rupture. Pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are common. Pneumopericardium does not occur often, but it can be life-threatening if it produces acute cardiac tamponade. In a review of the literature, Brans and associates1 found that pneumopericardium in neonates was treated by pericardiocentesis in one half of the published cases; 79% of them survived or they ultimately died of complications unrelated to pericardial tamponade. However, only 32% of the infants treated conservatively survived.