Key result
Pericardiocentesis linked to asymptomatic pneumopericardium and subsequent AFib requiring pharmacological cardioversion.
Why the study?
Pneumopericardium is a rare complication of pericardiocentesis that may be asymptomatic but can lead to serious complications such as atrial fibrillation.
Case Report (n=1)
Clinicians should perform a post-pericardiocentesis chest X-ray to diagnose potentially asymptomatic pneumopericardium and prevent catastrophic complications.
Pneumopericardium after pericardiocentesis may be asymptomatic; this case leaves open optimal post-procedure imaging strategies.
Air inside the pericardial cavity is called "pneumopericardium", which is a rare complication of pericardiocentesis. Pneumopericardium may resolve spontaneously or can complicate into tension pericardium, requiring urgent aspiration. We herein describe a 55-year-old man with pericardial effusion who underwent pericardiocentesis. The patient was completely asymptomatic after the procedure. Chest radiograph and computed tomography scan accidentally detected pneumopericardium, which was subsequently complicated by atrial fibrillation and necessitated pharmacological cardioversion. We found no case of asymptomatic pneumopericardium complicated by atrial fibrillation after pericardiocentesis in our literature review. Clinicians and cardiologists should do a post pericardiocentesis chest X-ray to diagnose pneumopericardium and prevent the catastrophic complications of tension pneumopericardium.
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Shah et al. (2019) conducted a case report in Pericardial effusion (n=1). Pericardiocentesis was evaluated on Development of pneumopericardium and atrial fibrillation. Pericardiocentesis in a 55-year-old man was complicated by asymptomatic pneumopericardium and subsequent atrial fibrillation requiring pharmacological cardioversion.
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