Black Swan: Atypical Left Ventricular Tamponade

Abstract

Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition that requires prompt recognition and treatment. The diagnosis is made clinically and echocardiographically. The right heart chambers are a system of low pressures and are the first to collapse in tamponade. However, there are cases where LV tamponade is also observed. It is rare and has two types: isolated LV pericardial effusion and circumferential pericardial effusion. This chapter aims to highlight the importance of recognizing atypical forms, which is often difficult due to the lack of classic signs of tamponade.