Key result
Surgical evacuation of a giant hepatic hydatid cyst resolves recurrent pericardial effusion and tamponade.
Why the study?
Transdiaphragmatic rupture of a hepatic hydatid cyst into the pericardium is exceptionally rare and may cause cardiac tamponade.
Case Report (n=1)
Highlights a rare cause of cardiac tamponade from transdiaphragmatic rupture of a hepatic hydatid cyst, requiring definitive surgical source control.
Alerts clinicians to rare transdiaphragmatic hydatid rupture in tamponade; leaves open standardized protocols pending larger series.
Transdiaphragmatic rupture of a hepatic hydatid cyst into the pericardium is exceptionally rare and may precipitate cardiac tamponade. A 34-year-old postpartum woman presented with acute dyspnea and hemodynamic compromise from a pericardial effusion with tamponade physiology. Imaging revealed a giant (∼25 cm) hepatic hydatid cyst communicating with the pericardium. Pericardiocentesis drained purulent fluid growing Streptococcus constellatus , but the effusion rapidly reaccumulated. Laparotomy confirmed a 3- × 4-cm diaphragmatic defect with daughter cysts in the pericardial space; cyst evacuation resolved the effusion. Multimodality imaging-guided surgical source control achieved recovery in this rare cause of tamponade.
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Alwaheidi et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Giant hepatic hydatid cyst with pericardial erosion and cardiac tamponade (n=1). Surgical cyst evacuation was evaluated. Surgical cyst evacuation successfully resolved recurrent pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade caused by a transdiaphragmatic erosion of a giant hepatic hydatid cyst.
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