Pneumocardium Captured on Bedside Transesophageal Echocardiography—An Unreported Complication of Needle Thoracostomy

We describe a case of left-sided pneumocardium, identified by transesophageal echocardiography, following needle thoracostomy in a tertiary intensive care unit (ICU). Bilateral needle thoracostomy was performed during a cardiac arrest. Intracardiac arrest echocardiography demonstrated pneumocardium immediately following the procedure, with air in the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV). This previously unreported consequence of needle …