General Anesthesia On A Patient With Suspected Superior Vena Cava Syndrome In Cardiac Tamponade For Subxiphoid Tube Pericardiostomy: A Case Report

Abstract

Induction of general anesthesia in patients with cardiac tamponade can cause significant risks. All general anesthetics are myocardial depressants, and most are peripheral vasodilators. In this report, we discussed a 61-year-old woman with pericardial effusion and other signs suggestive of cardiac tamponade, together with facial edema and engorgement of neck veins, scheduled for subxiphoid tube pericardiostomy and pericardial biopsy under general endotracheal anesthesia. The patient was intubated successfully with no noted events on induction and during the perioperative period and immediately postoperatively. To conclude, general anesthesia may be safely performed in patients with cardiac tamponade but must be tailored according to tamponade physiology and their presenting signs and symptoms.