Arab Abeer A, Kattan Maan A, Alyafi Walid A, Alhashemi Jamal A
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi J Anaesth. 2011 Oct;5(4):434-7. doi: 10.4103/1658-354X.87278.
This is a rare case of broncho-pleuropericardial fistula in a 12-year-old female who presented with fever, painful joint swelling, and pleural and pericardial effusion secondary to disseminated methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus infection. The pleural and pericardial effusion were drained, however, air leak was observed from both tubes and was synchronous with mechanical inspiration. A broncho-pleuropericardial fistula was suspected and confirmed with computed tomography. This case report demonstrated that disseminated S. aureus bacteremia could result in broncho-pleuropericardial fistula. The ability of disseminated staphylococcal infection to produce pnemopericardium should be added to the list of other complications associated with disseminated staphylococcal sepsis.