TENSION PNEUMOPERICARDIUM FOLLOWING TRACHEOPLASTY FOR CONGENITAL TRACHEAL STENOSIS

Tension pneumopericardium is a rare complication of mechanical ventila tion following tracheoplasty for congenital tracheal stenosis. This ca se report describes fatal tension pneumopericardium in a three-month-o ld male infant some 24 hours following tracheoplasty for this conditio n. Because of persisting stenosis of the left main bronchus, ventilati on pressures of PIP 23 cm H2O and PEEP 5 cm, progressing to PIP 28 cm and PEEP 7 cm were needed to maintain adequate respiratory exchange, P artial relief of the pneumopericardium was achieved by vigorous cardia c massage, but three days later the infant died of massive airway haem orrhage.