Unusual presentation of late regional cardiac tamponade after aortic surgery.
Localized pericardial effusion leading to cardiac tamponade is seen occasionally in patients after cardiac surgery. This condition may be difficult to diagnose clinically because of unusual presenting symptoms and absence of conventional signs of cardiac tamponade. A case of localized pericardial effusion with presenting symptoms of fever and increasing fatigue is described in this study. The definitive diagnosis was made using transesophageal echocardiography. Surgical drainage of localized effusion resulted in prompt hemodynamic and symptomatic improvement.
Jadhav
P
P
Division of Cardiology, University of Oklahoma Health Science center, Oklahoma City 73190-3048, USA.
Asirvatham
S
S
Craven
P
P
Howell
E
E
Sivaram
C A
CA
Kamalesh
M
M
Chandrasekaran
K
K
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*