A case of pneumopericardium following endomyocardial biopsy.

Pneumopericardium is a very rare condition, less common than isolated pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum. Since it can occasionally cause pericardial tamponade, prompt recognition and treatment of this condition is lifesaving. Up to now only one case of isolated pneumopericardium after endomyocardial biopsy has been reported in a two-month boy with a dilated cardiomyopathy of unknown origin. In the current case, we report a 25-year-old man who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation three years ago in whom isolated pneumopericardium occurred following endomyocardial biopsy performed via right internal jugular vein.