[Pneumopericardium in newborns during artificial ventilation (author's transl)].

During a period of 4 years 5 cases of pneumopericardium were observed among 571 artificially ventilated early- and newborn babies. 4 patients died as result of cardiac tamponade, 3 of them before the pericardiocentesis could be performed. 1 infant survived by puncture of the pericardial cavity. Frequency, pathological mechanism, and diagnosis of the pneumopericardium including quick terapeutical measurements under which pericardiocentesis could be life saving, are discussed.