Abstract
A 19-year-old man with large malignant pleural and pericardial effusions with tamponade physiology and signs of congestive heart failure presented for emergent subxiphoid pericardial window. Surgical drainage of the pericardium was complicated by a paradoxical cardiovascular collapse that failed to respond to pressors and intravenous fluids. Suspecting a pericardial perforation, a median sternotomy was performed and revealed an intact heart. The arterial pressure was promptly restored after drainage of the pleural effusion. It is proposed that, in patients presenting with tamponading pericardial and pleural effusions, drainage of the pleural effusion be given priority. The pathophysiology of low cardiac output states resulting from pericardial and large pleural effusion is discussed and the literature reviewed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
