title: Intraoperative cardiac tamponade complicating esophagogastrectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thoracoabdominal esophagogastrectomy is associated with a number of potential life-threatening complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a patient with intraoperative hypotension in which a number of therapeutic maneuvers eventually led to the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Once the diagnosis of tamponade was made, it was successfully treated by the release of intrapericardial blood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although rare, tamponade should be considered as a cause of hemodynamic instability whenever intraoperative manipulation of the heart has occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Curtiss
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Brower
mesh_terms: D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014680:Veins / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery