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.

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Published

2013-03-28

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2013)

Section

Article / Clinical Case Report

License

Authors of articles published by Autopsy and Case Report retain the copyright of their work without restrictions, licensing it under the Creative Commons Attribution License - CC-BY, which allows articles to be re-used and re-distributed without restriction, as long as the original work is correctly cited.

How to Cite

Brandão, R. M., Gonçalves, A. C. M. A., Brandão, R. P. M., Oliveira, L. F. de, Nogueira, A. C., & Kawabata, V. S. (2013). Transient elevation of ST-segment due to pneumothorax and pneumopericardium. Autopsy and Case Reports, 3(1), 63-6. https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.%y.58879