title: Delayed pericardial effusions: life-threatening complication presenting up to 100 days after chest trauma.
abstract: Stab wounds are often managed conservatively with simple wound assessment and closure. However, even apparently minor thoracic wounds can cause delayed pericardial effusions presenting as life-threatening tamponade sometimes days, weeks or months later. Patients suffering stab wounds to the chest should receive echocardiographic follow-up to exclude delayed pericardial effusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge. s.nijjer@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Sukhjinder S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Nijjer
authors.forename: Simon W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Dubrey
authors.forename: Gilles D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Dreyfus
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grocott-Mason
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
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