Key result
Nonverbal status delays diagnosis of massive pericardial effusion with tamponade, requiring broad objective work-ups.
Why the study?
There is a notable paucity of literature regarding the diagnostic approach to cardiac tamponade in patients who are nonverbal.
Case Report (n=1)
This case highlights the critical need for a broad work-up and reliance on objective data, such as echocardiography, to prevent delayed diagnosis of life-threatening conditions like cardiac tamponade in nonverbal patients.
Prolonged tamponade diagnosis possible in nonverbal patients; leaves open standardized approaches using nonverbal cues.
We present the case of a 19-year-old man with a medical history of developmental delay and no cardiac history who had prolonged time to diagnosis of massive pericardial effusion with tamponade physiology. Cardiac tamponade is an uncommon medical emergency. Our case includes all classic echocardiographic findings of tamponade and a notable massive effusion. Given the notable paucity of literature in the diagnostic approach with patients who are nonverbal, using nonverbal cues, implementing a broad work-up, and relying on objective data to guide the diagnostic approach are imperative.
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Nevin et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Massive pericardial effusion with tamponade physiology (n=1). A 19-year-old nonverbal man experienced a delayed diagnosis of massive pericardial effusion with tamponade physiology, highlighting the need for objective data and broad work-up in nonverbal patients.
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