Pneumopericardium is defined as the condition of presence of air in the pericardial space. It is associated with various etiologies such as chest trauma, infection or invasive procedures. We herein describe a case of cardiac tamponade associated with pneumopericardium. We diagnosed iatrogenic pneumopericardium by plain chest radiography and two-dimensional echocardiography. The patient was successfully treated by re-pericardiocentesis.
Cardiac Tamponade ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pneumopericardium ; Thorax

We study on 3 children pyopericarditis on July 1996 at the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department Cho Ray Hospital. All of patients come from Pediatric Hospital. Diagnostic: pyopericarditis with pus from pericardiocentesis. Operation: largely pericardiectomy. Result: all patients are in good condition when they are discharge.
Myocarditis ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericardiectomy ; surgery ; therapeutics ; child

Primary cardiac malignancy is very rare. Angiosarcoma is the most frequent malignant cardiac tumor and associated with a very unfavourable outcome. We report the case of an cardiac angiosarcoma complicated with cardiac tamponade revealed by echocardiography with pericardiocentesis and confirmed histopathologically in a 25 years old man.
Adult ; Cardiac Tamponade* ; Echocardiography ; Heart Neoplasms ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Humans ; Pericardiocentesis

No abstract available.
Central Venous Catheters* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Pericardiocentesis*

Pneumopericardium is a rare complication of pericardiocentesis, occurring either as a result of direct pleuro-pericardial communication or a leaky drainage system. Air-fluid level surrounding the heart shadow within the pericardium on a chest X-ray is an early observation at diagnosis. This clinical measurement and process is variable, depending on the hemodynamic status of the patient. The development of a cardiac tamponade is a serious complication, necessitating prompt recognition and treatment. We recently observed a case of pneumopericardium after a therapeutic pericardiocentesis in a 20-year-old man with tuberculous pericardial effusion.
Cardiac Tamponade ; Drainage ; Heart ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericardium ; Pneumopericardium ; Thorax ; Young Adult

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that involves many different organ systems, and this illness exhibits a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. The renal involvement in SLE is called lupus nephritis and 50~80% of patients with SLE suffer from lupus nephritis. Although pericarditis or pericardial effusion is a common cardiac manifestation of SLE, cardiac tamponade is rare. Cardiac tamponade may be fatal if it is not recognized quickly and treated promptly. We report a case of cardiac tamponade associated with lupus nephritis. Treatment consisted of pericardiocentesis and high-dose corticosteroid.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Lupus Nephritis ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericarditis

BACKGROUND: Cardiac tamponade is associated with the expiratory increase and the expira-tory decrease in left ventricular filling flow. With Doppler echocardiography, we analyzed the respiratory variations of mitral and tricuspid inflows, and pulmonary and hepatic venous flows in patients with cardiac tamponade. METHODS: Respiratory hemodynamic changes in mitral and tricuspid inflows and pulmonary and hepatic venous flows were evaluated using Doppler echocardiography in 13 patients (6 men and 7 women; mean age 51+/-13 years) with large pericardial effusion and clinical cardiac tamponade, and compared the results with those of 11 control subjects (3 men and 8 women, mean age 53+/-13 years). Doppler examination was repeated after pericardiocentesis in 6 patients. RESULTS: Peak velocity of early diastolic mitral inflow (E velocity) decreased during inspiration compared with expiratory increase; the mean percentage change was 40%. Peak velocity of late diastolic mitral inflow (A velocity) decreased 13% during inspiration. E/A ratio decreased 31% during inspiration. Deceleration time (DT) and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) increased by 26% and 44%, respectively, during inspiration. But respiratory variations of tricuspid inflow were opposite to those of mitral inflow. Tricuspid E velocity increased during inspiration and decre-ased during expiration. The mean percentage change was 123%, which was larger than thte 40% of mitral inflow. The most characteristic findings of pulmonary venous flow during respiration were the expiratory increases of peak diastolic velocity (DV) and diastolic time-velocity integral (D-TVI). The mean percentage changes of peak systolic velocity (SV), DV and D-TVI during respiration were 27%, 45% and 53% respectively. In contrast, the SV and DV of hepatic venous flow increased during inspiration and decreased during expiration. The respiratory variations of peak systolic reverse flow velocity (SR) and peak diastolic reverse flow velocity (DR) were opposite to those of SV and DV. DR notably increased during expiration, and the mean percentage change was 61%. The ratio of RFI (Inspiratory reverse flow integral) to FFI (forward flow integral) of the tamponade group was 270%. The mean percentage changes of each parameters decreased after pericardiocentesis. CONCLUSION: Patients with cardiac tamponade showed inspiratory increases of diastolic tri-cuspid filling flow and hepatic forward flow. Expiratory increases included diastolic mitral filling flow, pulmonary venous systolic and diastolic flow, and hepatic venous reverse flow. Such res-piratory variations decreased after pericardiocentesis.
Cardiac Tamponade* ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Relaxation ; Respiration

We present an iatrogenic, pleuro-pericardial connection resulting from pericardiocentesis of a large, tuberculous, pericardial effusion. Recognition of this situation is paramount when one is unable to aspirate pericardial fluid after a successful, initial puncture. Such knowledge will help prevent myocardial or coronary artery injury with further attempts at aspiration.
Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Pericardial Fluid ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pleural Cavity ; Punctures ; Tuberculosis

Acupuncture-related hemopericardium is a rare but potentially fatal complication. We describe a hemopericardium that occurred shortly after acupuncture in a 55-year-old woman. A chest CT scan and echocardiography revealed a hemopericardium, and pericardiocentesis was then immediately and successfully performed. Subsequently, her clinical course improved. This case increases the attention of emergency physicians for acupuncture-related complications, especially hemopericardium, and the necessity of rapid diagnosis and management.
Acupuncture Therapy/*adverse effects ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pericardial Effusion/*diagnosis/*etiology/surgery ; Pericardiocentesis

Acupuncture-related hemopericardium is a rare but potentially fatal complication. We describe a hemopericardium that occurred shortly after acupuncture in a 55-year-old woman. A chest CT scan and echocardiography revealed a hemopericardium, and pericardiocentesis was then immediately and successfully performed. Subsequently, her clinical course improved. This case increases the attention of emergency physicians for acupuncture-related complications, especially hemopericardium, and the necessity of rapid diagnosis and management.
Acupuncture Therapy/*adverse effects ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pericardial Effusion/*diagnosis/*etiology/surgery ; Pericardiocentesis