title: Delayed hemopericardium with constrictive pericarditis after blunt trauma: a report of a surgical case.
abstract: Constrictive pericarditis (CP) following hemopericardium has been reported in the literature but its pathogenesis is open to question. Proposed mechanisms include trauma leading to damage of the mesothelial lining resulting in decreased fibrinolytic activity in the presence of blood. We present a patient who sustained blunt thoracoabdominal trauma in a car accident and subsequently developed delayed hemopericardium leading to constrictive pericarditis and impending cardiac tamponade. We performed a pericardiectomy to relieve the compression. Closely prolonged monitoring and emergent operation are suggested for such kinds of delayed complications.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Thoracic Surgery, Mackey Memorial Hospital, Mackey Medicine, Nursing, and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Shih
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hung-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen-Chieh
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chao-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Charng-Jer
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chi-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tzen
authors.forename: Wei-Hung
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*