title: Hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade in a patient with an elevated international normalized ratio.
abstract: This case report describes a 54-year-old male on warfarin for atrial fibrillation who presented to the emergency department (ED) following a syncopal episode with persistent hypotension. The patient's International Normalized Ratio (INR) returned elevated at 6.0, and a rapid bedside cardiac ultrasound revealed a large pericardial effusion consistent with cardiac tamponade. The anticoagulation was reversed and the patient underwent successful pericardiocentesis with removal of 1,100 mL of blood.
authors: Kaiser Santa Clara Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Santa Clara, CA.
authors: Joel T
authors: JT
authors: Levis
authors: Mucio C
authors: MC
authors: Delgado