Pericardiocentesis performed for relief of chronic cardiac tamponade secondary to trauma led to increased pulmonary arterial pressures and clinical pulmonary edema.
Case Report
The intact pericardium is only slightly elastic and provides an external constraint that prevents overdistention of the heart chambers. Surgical removal of the pericardium may result in ventricular dilation and subsequent deterioration in ventricular performance. A gradually accumulating pericardial effusion both compresses the heart and slowly expands pericardial capacity. If the pericardium does not immediately contract after removal of pericardial fluid, pericardiocentesis leads to a temporary state equivalent to a functional pericardiectomy (1) with hemodynamic alterations that can occasionally lead to a rapid increase in right ventricular end-diastolic volume and pulmonary edema. This report documents increased pulmonary arterial (PA) pressures following pericardiocentesis performed for relief of chronic cardiac tamponade, leading to clinical pulmonary edema.
Downey et al. (1991) conducted a case report in Chronic cardiac tamponade secondary to trauma. Pericardiocentesis was evaluated on Increased pulmonary arterial pressures and clinical pulmonary edema. Pericardiocentesis performed for relief of chronic cardiac tamponade secondary to trauma led to increased pulmonary arterial pressures and clinical pulmonary edema.