Pulmonary Edema after Pericardiocentesis for Cardiac Tamponade

DIAGNOSTIC and therapeutic aspiration of fluid from various body cavities is a common procedure. The amount of fluid that can be removed safely at one time is limited by potential complications. In patients with cirrhosis of the liver and ascites, a reduction in stroke volume and cardiac output can occur if more than 1500 ml of ascitic fluid is removed.1 Removal of more than 2000 ml of pleural fluid can result in unilateral pulmonary edema.2 We have not previously observed pulmonary edema as a complication of pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade. We describe a patient with cardiac tamponade caused by carcinomatous . . .