title: Management of a patient with pericardial decompression syndrome and HOCM.
abstract: A 44-year-old man, with a history of arterial hypertension, was referred with increasing shortness of breath due to a large pericardial effusion and imminent tamponade. Emergency ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis resulted in the rapid withdrawal of 2760 cc of serous fluid. 3 hours later, the patient developed acute pulmonary oedema, which was successfully treated. Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy was later diagnosed and malignancy was excluded as a cause of the effusion. Clinicians performing pericardiocentesis need to be aware of pericardial decompression syndrome (PDS), a rare but serious complication. Although the underlying mechanisms causing PDS are not fully understood, patients with high left ventricular (LV) filling pressures are at particular risk. In other words: diastolic dysfunction of the LV is a risk factor for the occurrence of PDS.
authors.affiliation: Herz-Zentrum-Saar, Voelklingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fozing
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Herz-Zentrum-Saar, Voelklingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nayef
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zouri
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Herz-Zentrum-Saar, Voelklingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Herz-Zentrum-Saar, Voelklingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oezbek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D020519:Pericardiocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D014463:Ultrasonography