Rare coexistence of pericardial tear and pneumopericardium in diabetic ketoacidosis: a case report.

We report the first case of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) complicated by concurrent pneumopericardium and pericardial tear in a 47-year-old male with type 2 diabetes. The patient presented with intractable vomiting, Kussmaul respiration, and severe metabolic acidosis (pH 6.98). Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a 2.5 × 4.0 cm pneumopericardium and a 3-mm linear defect at the left ventricular apex. Transthoracic echocardiography excluded cardiac tamponade, enabling conservative management with insulin therapy, fluid resuscitation, and bicarbonate correction. Pneumopericardium resolved within 4 days, and 12-month follow-up showed stable cardiac function (ejection fraction 60 %), normal pericardial structure on chest CT, and sustained glycemic control (HbA1c 7.2 %). This case highlights CT's critical role in detecting subtle pericardial complications and supports conservative therapy for stable cases, expanding the clinical spectrum of DKA-related thoracic injuries.