title: [Late pericardial tamponade: a dangerous complication of postoperative anticoagulation following heart surgery].
abstract: Late cardiac tamponade is a condition that presents with subtle signs and symptoms within days or weeks after cardiac surgery. During a one-year period, 16 patients, operated in our institution, developed this complication, mostly due to overdosage of anticoagulants. Diagnosis can be difficult and is best confirmed by echocardiography. The incidence of this dangerous complication is reportedly between 0.3 and 1%. The treatment consists in sub-xyphoid drainage when ever possible. In case of loculated or posterior tamponade, re-sternotomy might be necessary to assume complete decompression of the heart.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Herz- und Gefässchirurgie, Universitätsspital Zürich.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carrel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jenni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turina
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
vernacular_title: Die verzögerte Perikardtamponade: eine gefährliche Komplikation der postoperativen Antikoagulation nach kardiochirurgischen Eingriffen.