Air inside the pericardial cavity is called "pneumopericardium", which is a rare complication of pericardiocentesis. Pneumopericardium may resolve spontaneously or can complicate into tension pericardium, requiring urgent aspiration. We herein describe a 55-year-old man with pericardial effusion who underwent pericardiocentesis. The patient was completely asymptomatic after the procedure. Chest radiograph and computed tomography scan accidentally detected pneumopericardium, which was subsequently complicated by atrial fibrillation and necessitated pharmacological cardioversion. We found no case of asymptomatic pneumopericardium complicated by atrial fibrillation after pericardiocentesis in our literature review. Clinicians and cardiologists should do a post pericardiocentesis chest X-ray to diagnose pneumopericardium and prevent the catastrophic complications of tension pneumopericardium.
Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Pericardial effusion; Pericardiocentesis; Pneumopericardium.
Copyright © 2015 Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.