Transient elevation of ST-segment due to pneumothorax and pneumopericardium

Authors

  • Rodrigo Martins Brandão Department of Internal Medicine – Hospital Universitário – Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brazil
  • Amanda Cristina Maria Aparecida Gonçalves Nursing Department – Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
  • Renata Paula Martins Brandão Department of Nephrology – Hospital Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
  • Lucas Fernandes de Oliveira Department of Internal Medicine – Hospital Universitário – Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brazil
  • Antonio Carlos Nogueira Department of Internal Medicine – Hospital Universitário – Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brazil
  • Vitor Sérgio Kawabata Department of Internal Medicine – Hospital Universitário – Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP – Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.%25y.58879

Keywords:

Electrocardiography, Pneumothorax, Pneumopericardium, Asthma, Barotrauma

Abstract

ST-segment elevation, observed in the critically ill patients, almost always raises the suspicion of ischemic heart disease. However, nonischemic myocardial and non-myocardial problems in these patients may also lead to ST-segment elevation. Pneumothorax and pneumopericardium have been rarely reported as a cause of transient ST-segment elevation. The authors report the case of a patient admitted to the emergency care unit because of a respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilatory support. As the patient showed signs of clinical deterioration, a pneumothorax was clinically diagnosed. Chest radiography after thorax drainage also disclosed a pneumopericardium. The 12-lead electrocardiogram recorded before the thoracic drainage revealed an ST-segment elevation, which normalized after the surgical procedure. Ischemic myocardial biomarkers were negative. The authors call attention to the right-sided pneumothorax associated with pneumopericardium as an unusual cause of ST-segment elevation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2013-03-28

Issue

Section

Article / Clinical Case Report

How to Cite

Transient elevation of ST-segment due to pneumothorax and pneumopericardium. (2013). Autopsy and Case Reports, 3(1), 63-6. https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.%y.58879