Cardiac tamponade and right pleural effusion secondary to amoebic liver abscess treated with repeated ultrasound guided-percutaneous needle aspiration: a case report

Abstract

Amoebic liver abscess is common in low middle income countries and is mostly associated with poor sanitary condition. There is limited data describing patients with cardiac tamponade and right pleural effusion secondary to amoebic liver abscess in resource limited settings. We describe a 16-year-old female, grade 9 student who was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade and right pleural effusion secondary to amoebic liver abscess. Patient was successfully managed with metronidazole and repeated ultrasound guided-percutaneous needle aspiration. Chest X-ray was used in monitoring the patient’s progression. In resource limited settings, where there are no pigtail catheters or trained cardiac surgeons, early diagnosis with prompt initiation of metronidazole and repeated ultrasound guided-percutaneous needle aspiration of the liver abscess may help treat and prevent complications in these patients.