title: Pleural effusion causing cardiac tamponade: report of two cases and review of the literature.
abstract: We report on two patients who developed large left-sided pleural effusions in association with hemodynamic compromise. In both cases transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated left ventricular diastolic collapse confirming our clinical suspicion of cardiac tamponade. Large-volume thoracentesis in the first case and thoracotomy with drainage of the pleural collection in the second case resulted in immediate hemodynamic improvement. Our report shows that large pleural effusions can result in impaired cardiac filling and a tamponade-like physiology. Thoracentesis in this setting can lead to rapid improvement of the hemodynamic profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School of Athens University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kopterides
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lignos
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papadomichelakis
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mentzelopoulos
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armaganidis
authors.forename: Fotios
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Panou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019152:Paracentesis; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome