HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by LUBY, B. J. Articles by CAPITO, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by LUBY, B. J. Articles by CAPITO, R.

Postpartum Pneumopericardium

From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Charleston Division, and Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, West Virginia.
Charleston Area Medical Center 3200 MacCorkle Avenue, SE Charleston, WV 25304

Postpartum pneumopericardium has been previously reported in only 4 patients, but it may occur more frequently than is currently recognized. Two patients are presented with pneumopericardium and pneumomediastinum with symptoms appearing on the first and second postpartum days. The second stage of labor was prolonged in both patients and associated with strenuous maternal effort. Both patients were primiparous and developed dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and had Hamman sign. Chest x-rays established the diagnosis in both patients. Echocardiography was non-diagnostic in one patient and mimicked pericardial effusion in the other. Although fatal tension pneumopericardium has been reported in association with other causes, the course in these 2 patients and in the other 4 reported patients has been benign. Symptoms resolved spontaneously in these 2 patients by 72 hours after their appearance. A postulated mechanism for postpartum pneumopericardium is presented.