Traumatic tension pneumopericardium: a case report and literature review.

A 39-year-old male arrived in the emergency department with multiple stab wounds to the chest. A pneumopericardium was present on initial chest x-ray study. He subsequently developed hypotension, tachycardia, an elevated CVP (36 cm H2O) and a pulsus paradoxus. All parameters improved following removal of 100 cc of air by pericardiocentesis. The etiology, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of tension pneumopericardium are discussed.