Cardiac tamponade: an unusual, lifethreatening complication after transhiatal resection of the esophagus.
Transhiatal resection for carcinoma of the distal esophagus is associated with relative high morbidity and mortality. We present a rare case of cardiac tamponade after transhiatal esophagectomy for which emergency sternotomy was performed. Probably the retraction of the heart during exploration of the mediastinum caused a laceration of an epicardial vein. Although very rare, cardiac tamponade should be considered when hemodynamic instability during or after transhiatal esophagectomy occurs.
Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands. suzanne.kats@catharina-ziekenhuis.nl
Suzanne
S
Kats
Grard A P
GA
Nieuwenhuijzen
Bart H M
BH
van Straten
Jacques P A M
JP
Schönberger
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery