The way to a man's heart is through his stomach - peanuts in the pericardium! A rare case of traumatic gastropericardial fistula

Pneumopericardium is most commonly iatrogenic and in cases of gastropericardial fistula, the stomach is usually intrathoracic. We report a case of penetrating trauma induced gastropericardial fistula from an intraabdominal stomach resulting in pneumopericardium. The diagnosis was confirmed during laparotomy. Pneumopericardium, if small, can be managed conservatively, but immediate release is required if tension occurs. Gastropericardial fistula carries a high mortality and should be surgically repaired. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2013;20:53-56)