The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care · 1991 · 15 citations · 0 references
MedicineCardiologySurgeryCardiothoracic SurgeryClinical CardiologyTrauma CareBlunt Force InjuryPericardial SurgeryPericardial TamponadeThoracic TraumaTrauma ComplicationsTraumatic InjuryBlunt Chest TraumaBlunt Thoracic InjuryBlunt Thoracic TraumaChest Wall TraumaNeurologic FunctionPericardial InjuryPostoperative Cardiac TamponadeTraumatic Cardiac Tamponade
Tension pneumopericardium is uncommon in blunt trauma, and only rare survivors have been reported. We report two patients who survived tension pneumopericardium following blunt trauma. Both patients experienced signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade that were corrected by insertion of a subxyphoid pericardial tube. Both survived all injuries and returned to normal activities with normal neurologic function.