Pneumorachis associated with persistent tachycardia after blunt thoracic trauma.

Pneumorachis, or intraspinal air, can be a rare result of blunt thoracic trauma. We report the case of a 40-year-old man with multiple injuries and pneumorachis associated with persistent tachycardia. As factors that increase heart rate were gradually ruled out, intraspinal air was considered the potential culprit. Computed tomography revealed intraspinal air at the thoracic level, which possibly promoted cardiac arrhythmogenesis. Air may transiently compress the preganglionic cardiac sympathetic nerves and increase sympathetic output to the heart.