Cocaine-Induced Pneumopericardium: Safe for Discharge? A Case Report and Literature Review

A 29-year-old male presented at the Emergency Department (ED) with chest pain and neck tenderness after intranasal cocaine usage. Physical exam of the patient demonstrated moderate subcutaneous emphysema on the right side of his neck. The ECG did not demonstrate any changes associated with cocaine-i...

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Main Authors: Xavier Galloo, Jan Stroobants, David Yeo, Esmael El-Abdellati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Cardiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4107815
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author Xavier Galloo
Jan Stroobants
David Yeo
Esmael El-Abdellati
author_facet Xavier Galloo
Jan Stroobants
David Yeo
Esmael El-Abdellati
author_sort Xavier Galloo
collection DOAJ
description A 29-year-old male presented at the Emergency Department (ED) with chest pain and neck tenderness after intranasal cocaine usage. Physical exam of the patient demonstrated moderate subcutaneous emphysema on the right side of his neck. The ECG did not demonstrate any changes associated with cocaine-induced cardiac ischemia, and blood analysis was normal (negative troponins). A chest X-ray revealed subtle evidence of pneumomediastinum. Subsequent thoracic CT confirmed the presence of subcutaneous emphysema with a pneumopericardium and a large pneumomediastinum along with a small pneumothorax. The patient was managed conservatively and kept overnight for observation. He was discharged from the ED the following day with ambulatory follow-up. A repeat thoracic CT performed two weeks later demonstrated that the findings identified in the first CT had resolved. Pneumopericardium, -mediastinum, and -thorax are rare conditions reported after cocaine abuse. A conservative approach with a period of observation in a suitable ambulatory unit is acceptable, as current literature suggests that the condition is usually self-limiting.
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spelling doaj-art-3d57310622c044b78ded421f98d1b2ef2025-08-20T03:55:33ZengWileyCase Reports in Cardiology2090-64042090-64122019-01-01201910.1155/2019/41078154107815Cocaine-Induced Pneumopericardium: Safe for Discharge? A Case Report and Literature ReviewXavier Galloo0Jan Stroobants1David Yeo2Esmael El-Abdellati3Department of Cardiology, ZNA Middelheim, Antwerp, BelgiumEmergency Department, ZNA Middelheim, Antwerp, BelgiumEmergency Department, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UKEmergency Department, ZNA Middelheim, Antwerp, BelgiumA 29-year-old male presented at the Emergency Department (ED) with chest pain and neck tenderness after intranasal cocaine usage. Physical exam of the patient demonstrated moderate subcutaneous emphysema on the right side of his neck. The ECG did not demonstrate any changes associated with cocaine-induced cardiac ischemia, and blood analysis was normal (negative troponins). A chest X-ray revealed subtle evidence of pneumomediastinum. Subsequent thoracic CT confirmed the presence of subcutaneous emphysema with a pneumopericardium and a large pneumomediastinum along with a small pneumothorax. The patient was managed conservatively and kept overnight for observation. He was discharged from the ED the following day with ambulatory follow-up. A repeat thoracic CT performed two weeks later demonstrated that the findings identified in the first CT had resolved. Pneumopericardium, -mediastinum, and -thorax are rare conditions reported after cocaine abuse. A conservative approach with a period of observation in a suitable ambulatory unit is acceptable, as current literature suggests that the condition is usually self-limiting.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4107815
spellingShingle Xavier Galloo
Jan Stroobants
David Yeo
Esmael El-Abdellati
Cocaine-Induced Pneumopericardium: Safe for Discharge? A Case Report and Literature Review
Case Reports in Cardiology
title Cocaine-Induced Pneumopericardium: Safe for Discharge? A Case Report and Literature Review
title_full Cocaine-Induced Pneumopericardium: Safe for Discharge? A Case Report and Literature Review
title_fullStr Cocaine-Induced Pneumopericardium: Safe for Discharge? A Case Report and Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed Cocaine-Induced Pneumopericardium: Safe for Discharge? A Case Report and Literature Review
title_short Cocaine-Induced Pneumopericardium: Safe for Discharge? A Case Report and Literature Review
title_sort cocaine induced pneumopericardium safe for discharge a case report and literature review
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/4107815
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