Hydropneumopericardium Due to Esophageal-Pericardial Fistula: A Rare Complication of Esophageal Stenting

Authors

Svenja Schneider, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Margaret Doyle, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Suzanna Talento
Waqas Ullah
Gregary D. Marhefka, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

6-15-2025

Comments

This article is the author’s final published version in Annals of Internal Medicine Clinical Cases, Volume 4, Issue 6, 2025, Article number e250118.

The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.7326/aimcc.2025.0118. Copyright © 2025 Authors.

Abstract

We present a case of a 53-year-old woman with a history of ulcerative esophagitis and esophageal stricture status post esophageal stenting that was complicated by stent migration. She presented with fatigue, melena, and dark output from her percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube. An echocardiogram showed hydropneumopericardium with cardiac tamponade physiology requiring emergent pericardiocentesis. The aspirated fluid was brown and cloudy; pathology of the fluid showed meat and vegetable matter consistent with food. She ultimately required esophagectomy with esophagostomy. This case highlights the importance of early recognition of esophageal-pericardial fistulas, as delay in the management carries a high risk for morbidity and mortality.

Recommended Citation

Schneider, Svenja; Doyle, Margaret; Talento, Suzanna; Ullah, Waqas; and Marhefka, Gregary D., "Hydropneumopericardium Due to Esophageal-Pericardial Fistula: A Rare Complication of Esophageal Stenting" (2025). Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers. Paper 180.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/cardiologyfp/180

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Language

English