title: Cardiac tamponade following acupuncture.
abstract: We present a rare complication of acupuncture in a 83-year-old woman who developed syncope and cardiogenic shock shortly after an acupuncture procedure into the sternum. Echocardiography revealed cardiac tamponade, and pericardiocentesis disclosed hemopericardium. Due to hemodynamic instability, thoracotomy was indicated. A small but actively bleeding perforation of the right ventricle was found and successfully closed. Although acupuncture represents a relatively safe therapeutic intervention, this case report should remind all acupuncturists of possible and sometimes life-threatening adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cardiology, General Hospital Wels, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirchgatterer
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Höller
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Punzengruber
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eber
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000209:etiology