[Post traumatic air tamponade under assisted ventilation. Case report from Dakar, Senegal].

Compressive pnemopericardium is an uncommon cause of shock after blunt trauma. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of air tamponnade observed during management of a patient with thoraco-abominal injuries in Dakar, Senegal. Diagnosis was suspected based on chest x-rays and subsequently confirmed by CT-scan. Clinical features included shock syndrome, small heart sign, and constant deterioration under assisted ventilation. Despite initial improvement after needle aspiration, the patient died due to probable recurrence of air tamponnade. Based on their review of the literature, the authors discuss the physiopathology of air tamponande and emergency treatment by needle aspiration that must be followed by surgery for creation of a pericardial window.