title: Cardiac tamponade complicating a case of fever of unknown origin.
abstract: A 16-year-old male was transferred to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) after 17 days of fever of unknown origin. An echocardiogram revealed a small pericardial effusion only. Serial echocardiography demonstrated an increased size of this effusion with collapse of the right atrium during diastole. A subxiphoid open pericardiostomy was performed to relieve the impending tamponade and to assist in the diagnosis of his fever. The diagnostic criteria for cardiac tamponade are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Borkowski
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weinhouse
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology