title: Cardiac tamponade, an unusual and fatal complication of esophagus dilatation for benign stenosis: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present a patient with a fatal late esophago-pericardial fistula three months after dilatation for benign oesophagus stenosis
  
  
  METHODS
  A 71-year-old caucasian male with a known benign esophagus stenosis was referred to the ICU. On arrival an asystole developed which proved to be due to a large pericardial effusion. Pericardial fluids were drained, but the patients' condition worsened and he died due to multiple organ failure. Postmortum investigation revealed an esophago-pericardial fistula.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Causes of an acute tamponade should also be sought in semirecent events, such as manipulation to the oesophagus months before the acute critical illness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care, Gelre Hospitals, Lukas site, Post office Box 9014, 7300 DS, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. p.spronk@gelre.nl.
authors.forename: Wendela L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Greven
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kooij
authors.forename: Herman M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kardux
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Spronk