Acute right heart failure from massive pulmonary embolism can present with a large transudative pericardial effusion without tamponade physiology, illustrating a novel mechanism for effusion development.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Alerts to possible large effusions without tamponade after massive PE; single case leaves open broader applicability and management.
The most recent patient in a 13-year experience with 14 patients suffering massive pulmonary thromboembolism requiring pulmonary thromboembolectomy is the focus of this report. This 40-year-old woman not only survived life-threatening acute hypoxemia and right heart failure, but was also found to have developed a unique transudative 700 cc pericardial effusion. Pulmonary artery pressure was 90/30 (mean 50 mmHg), accompanied by 17 mm right ventricular alternans. Systemic alternans and tamponade physiology were absent. This unusual natural model for acute right heart failure illustrates a novel mechanism for pericardial effusion physiology.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Stang et al. (1983) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: