Tension Pneumopericardium in an Infant

Pneumopericardium in newborns is most often a complication of mechanical ventilation and frequently results in fatal cardiac tamponade. We report the case of a mechanically ventilated 33-day-old full-term gestation infant with interstitial pneumonitis who developed tension pneumopericardium. Treatment includes lowering peak inspiratory pressure and decompressing the pericardial space with tube drainage following pericardiocentesis.