Does pericardiocentesis improve acute renal failure in a patient with pericardial tamponade?
Pericardial tamponade can be a rare cause of acute renal failure, which is reversible with prompt pericardiocentesis.
Acute renal failure (ARF) is still a considerable factor in hospital morbidity and mortality. This clinical condition occurs in up to 25% of critically ill patients. Mortality in these patients varies widely depending on the cause. ARF in the context of a large pericardial effusion and pericardial tamponade has not often been reported. This paper presents a case of life-threatening pericardial tamponade and a consecutive rapid onset of ARF. Successful treatment with pericardiocentesis was performed, which was followed by restitution of renal function.
Giljača et al. (Tue,) studied this question.