Tension hemopericardium complicating neonatal pneumopericardium.

The case of a premature infant ventilated for hyaline membrane disease and complicated by recurrent tension pneumopericardium requiring surgical drainage is reported. The infant improved but developed a tension hemopericardium following the removal of the surgical drain. He had cardiac arrest, responded to resuscitation and drainage of the tension hemopericardium with a percutaneous catheter. At thoracotomy, a bleeding epicardial vessel was found and ligated. The infant survived and appeared to be normal at discharge.