Key result
A 59-year-old male with high clinical suspicion for COVID-19 pneumonia developed a large pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade and died despite emergent pericardiocentesis.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Cardiac tamponade is a potential, rapidly fatal complication in patients with suspected COVID-19 infection, highlighting the need for clinical vigilance.
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Tamponade may mimic COVID-19 pneumonia on presentation; this Level 5 case leaves open any causal link.
A 59-year-old male with no significant medical history presented with dyspnea and bilateral opacities on chest X-ray. The patient had a high suspicion for COVID-19 pneumonia based on chest X-ray and laboratory findings. Echocardiogram was performed, and the patient was found to have a large pericardial effusion with tamponade. An emergent pericardiocentesis was performed, with 600 cc of bloody fluid removed.
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Gurpreet Singh (2025) conducted a case report in Suspected COVID-19 pneumonia and cardiac tamponade (n=1). Suspected COVID-19 infection was evaluated. A 59-year-old male with high clinical suspicion for COVID-19 pneumonia developed a large pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade and died despite emergent pericardiocentesis.
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