Gastropericardial fistula: A rare etiology of chest pain. Issue 2 (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ghalem, Amine; Berrajaa, Mehdi; Ahsayan, Kamal; Aabdi, Mohammed; Boutahar, Imane; Skiker, Imane; Housni, Brahim; Ismaili, Nabila; Ouafi, Noha El
• Is Part Of: Hong Kong journal of emergency medicine. Volume 25:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 106
• Page End: 109
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Computed tomography -- gastrointestinal stromal tumor -- pneumopericardium; Emergency medicine -- Periodicals; 616.02505
• DOI: 10.1177/1024907917735073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2309-5407

Abstract

Gastropericardial fistula is an abnormal communication between the stomach and the pericardium. It is a rare, life-threatening condition that has numerous etiologies. We report the case of a 53-year-old male patient, with a history of wedge resection for gastrointestinal stromal tumor, who presented to the emergency department for epigastric and chest pain along with lethargy leading to the uncommon diagnosis of gastropericardial fistula with pneumopericardium. Through this case, we would like to draw clinicians' attention to gastropericardial fistula as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting for epigastric and/or chest pain with a history of esophagogastric surgery, emphasizing on the key role of computed tomography in this regard, and underscore the management basics of this unusual condition.