P25.3: Pneumopericardium originating in the perinatal period

The heart pumps blood through the body. In the process, the blood flows through blood vessels. The blood supplies all areas of the body with oxygen and nutrients. The pericardium is a layer of connective tissue surrounding the heart. There is some fluid in the pericardium (heart sac). So the heart is able to move inside this lining.

You need lungs to breath. When you breathe in, the air with the oxygen passes through the airways to the lungs. The respiratory tract ends in the air sacs in the lungs. Oxygen passes into the blood in the pulmonary alveoli (air sacs). The pulmonary alveoli and the airways are surrounded by supportive tissue. This supportive tissue consists of connective tissue.

If the child’s pulmonary alveoli tear, air can get into its heart sac. Pulmonary alveoli can tear in the course of artificial respiration. If pulmonary alveoli tear, health problems can occur. The extent of the health problems depends on how many pulmonary alveoli have torn. The lungs may be unable to absorb so much air so that there is a fall in the blood's oxygen content. If air collects in the heart sac, it can cause breathlessness and heart problems. The heart may then not pump enough blood through the body.