TY - JOUR T1 - Penetration Of The Pericardium By A Gastric Ulcer – Survival After Pericardiocentesis JF - The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice JO - J Am Board Fam Med SP - 289 LP - 291 DO - 10.3122/jabfm.3.4.289 VL - 3 IS - 4 AU - Mary N Hall AU - John M. Little, Jr. Y1 - 1990/10/01 UR - http://www.jabfm.org/content/3/4/289.abstract N2 - Elderly patients often have unusual manifestations of common illnesses. We describe a geriatric patient having a pneumopericardium from pericardial penetration by a gastric ulcer. Benign gastric ulceration causing perforation of the pericardium or other cardiac structures was recognized as early as 1854; however, unti11964, the condition was invariably fatal. Our patient survived the episode after early pericardiocentesis and medical treatment. Aspects of this uncommon clinical entity and a brief review of the literature are described. ER -