Cardiac tamponade as a complication of pseudocyst in chronic pancreatitis

Authors report a case of relapsing chronic calcifying pancreatitis with pleural and pericardial effusions during an episode of acute exacerbation. A large multilocular pancreatic pseudocyst expanded into the mediastinal space resulting in pericardial effusion that caused cardiac tamponade with severe circulatory deterioration. After resuscitation and pericardiocentesis a successful surgical procedure was performed, which produced rapid clinical improvement. Authors discuss this uncommon complication and review the proposed pathogenic mechanisms and possible therapeutic interventions.     

Uremic pericarditis as a cause of cardiac tamponade.

Uremic pericarditis may complicate either acute or, more commonly, chronic renal failure. When dialysis is not employed, uremic pericarditis is usually a preterminal event and is characterized by a serofibrinous exudation of an amount inadequate to cause cardiac tamponade. Nevertheless, cardiac tamponade may uncommonly be observed in nondialyzed patients. Cardiac tamponade, which may be life-threatening, is more common in dialyzed than in nondialyzed patients with chronic renal failure. The primary causes of cardiac tamponade in uremic pericarditis in order of decreasing frequency are (1) pericardial effusion, usually of the serosanguineous type, (2) massive hemorrhage into the pericardial sac and (3) collagenization of pericardial exudate. From pathologic evidence, the following forms of therapy appear appropriate to manage uremic pericarditis that has reached the stage of causing cardiac tamponade. For effusion, pericardiocentesis or parietal pericardiectomy are logical procedures. Massive hemorrhage into the pericardial sac is usually attended by clotting and requires pericardiotomy and evacuation of clot. Collagenization of exudate yields an encasing, fibrous shell over the heart and requires decortication, as is practised in classical constrictive pericarditis.     

Chylopericardium presenting as cardiac tamponade secondary to an anterior mediastinal cystic teratoma

Cardiac tamponade, the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space, leads to impaired venous return, loss of left ventricular preload, and hemodynamic collapse. The many causes of tamponade include malignancy, infection, inflammation, connective tissue disorders, and uremia. Herein, we report the case of a young woman who presented with syncope. She was found to have cardiac tamponade secondary to a chylous pericardial effusion that was due to a mature and benign anterior mediastinal cystic teratoma. Numerous reports have described pericardial effusions secondary to an anterior mediastinal cystic teratoma; however, to our knowledge, this is the 1st case of a teratoma causing chylopericardium that presented as tamponade.     

Anterior mediastinal teratoma presenting as cardiac tamponade

Anterior mediastinal teratoma presenting clinically as cardiac tamponade is unusual. We report the case of a 58-year-old woman, with an unremarkable prior history, who was admitted with cardiac tamponade. Emergency pericardial aspiration showed a thick, yellow fluid. Computed tomography scan of the chest was suggestive of anterior mediastinal teratoma rupturing into the pericardium. Within 24 hours, just before the planned surgery could be performed, it re-ruptured, warranting emergency surgery. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of a teratoma. Early surgery is recommended for even asymptomatic benign mediastinal teratomas to avoid this potentially lethal complication of rupture into the pericardial cavity, and cardiac tamponade.     

CT-guided drainage of a mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst with a transhepatic transdiaphragmatic approach

We describe a mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst treated with a catheter drainage placed under computed tomographic guidance using a newly applied approach. A needle was angled cephalad with the computed tomographic gantry tilt technique, and was inserted into the lowest portion of the cavity through the liver and through the diaphragm. The needle pathway was necessitated by the location of the pseudocyst cavity. The drainage alleviated completely the symptoms with no complications. The puncture technique should be an option for accessing mediastinal lesions percutaneously.     

Tension pneumopericardium following blunt chest trauma

A 12-year-old victim of an automobile-pedestrian accident appeared to develop severely compromised cardiac output shortly after intubation and positive pressure ventilation. Anteroposterior and lateral chest films showed air within the pericardial sac. After pericardiocentesis and withdrawal of air, cardiac function improved markedly as evidenced by a rise in blood pressure and a slowing of the pulse. A catheter was left in the pericardial sac for several days. The patient remained hemodynamically stable throughout the hospital stay and was subsequently discharged. Documentation of this degree of tamponade from air in the pericardium is quite uncommon.     

Pancreatico-pericardial fistula: a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis.

A 16-year-old boy presented with pericardial effusion, bilateral pleural effusion and mediastinal fluid collection. CT scan of abdomen revealed pancreatic calcification and a fistulous tract from a pseudocyst going along the inferior vena cava wall up to the pericardial cavity. After initial pericardiocentesis and pleurocentesis, lateral pancreatico-jejunostomy with Roux-en-Y loop was performed. The patient is well at 6 months follow up.     

Subacute rupture of the free left ventricular wall following acute myocardial infarction. Successful surgery in a case

Free left ventricular wall rupture following acute myocardial infarction usually results in cardiac tamponade and sudden death. Occasionally, the bleeding into the pericardial sac is arrested by the surrounding pericardial tissue causing formation of a pseudoaneurysm. The case herein reported presented with a refractory pericardial effusion 1 month after an anterior myocardial infarction. While echocardiography failed to reveal a pseudoaneurysm or to localize a rupture, cineventriculography disclosed the diagnosis of a minimal rupture of the left ventricular free wall. The patient was successfully treated by surgery.     

Pericardial cyst: case reports and a literature review

Pericardial cysts are rare mediastinal abnormalities, which are usually congenital but may also be acquired after cardiothoracic surgery. Cysts frequently occur in the right cardiophrenic angle and their diagnosis is usually suspected after an abnormal chest X ray is obtained. The presence of a pericardial cyst in this typical location or, less frequently, in an unusual location, poses a diagnostic challenge in distinguishing it from other intracardiac or mediastinal abnormalities. Two-dimensional echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography are extremely valuable in diagnosing the presence of a pericardial cyst. Although most pericardial cysts are asymptomatic, patients may present with chest pain and dyspnea. In addition, life-threatening complications such as pericardial tamponade have been reported in association with pericardial cysts. The following cases illustrate the usefulness of two-dimensional echocardiography in making an accurate diagnosis of a pericardial cyst, as well as in follow-up of these patients for the development of possible complications. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 21, April 2004)     

Delayed and recurrent cardiac tamponade following distal coronary perforation of hydrphilic guidewires during coronary intervention

Coronary artery perforation is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention, but can result in cardiac tamponade and is thus potentially life-threatening. It is well recognized that the use of hydrophilic wires during interventional procedures increases the risk of coronary perforation. We report two cases in which a particular looping configuration was suspected of causing vessel laceration with subsequent development of pericardial effusion and tamponade. In one case, tamponade occurred several days after the index procedure, mimicking acute myocardial infarction. In the second case, tamponade was successfully treated with immediate pericardial drainage, but tamponade recurred several days later.     

Treatment of chronic pancreatitic pleural effusion by percutaneous catheter drainage of abdominal pseudocyst

A 53-year-old man entered the hospital with a large, right chronic pancreatitic pleural effusion. Computed tomographic examination of the abdomen and chest demonstrated a pancreatic pseudocyst that had extended into the mediastinum. After conventional closed-chest tube thoracotomy drainage failed to empty the pleural space, percutaneous abdominal pseudocyst drainage was instituted using computed tomographic guidance. The pleural effusion cleared promptly, and the pancreatic pseudocyst resolved gradually over seven weeks. Following termination of pseudocyst drainage, the patient has remained well for over two years with no recurrence of pancreatitis, pseudocyst, or pleural effusion. In contrast, three earlier patients with a chronic pancreatitic effusion managed conventionally had a complicated hospital course and required surgical intervention; two had recurrent pancreatitis following hospital discharge. Percutaneous catheter placement was unsuccessful in one of these three and, in retrospect, was infeasible in the other two. It is recommended that thoracoabdominal computed tomography be performed in all patients with a chronic pancreatitic pleural effusion, and that percutaneous abdominal catheter drainage be attempted in all patients with an accessible pancreatic or mediastinal pseudocyst. Such treatment may relieve respiratory insufficiency, minimize the risk of empyema or fibrothorax, and may promote pseudocyst closure without the need for surgery.     

Cardiac tamponade and contralateral hemothorax after subclavian vein catheterization

A patient developed life-threatening cardiac tamponade and contralateral hemothorax after insertion of a subclavian catheter in the operating room. Contrast was infused through the catheter, demonstrating its malposition in the pericardial space. Contrast infusion was valuable in evaluating this complication of central line placement.     

Diagnosis and management of cardiac tamponade in the era of echocardiography.

Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition. Accurate diagnosis and prompt intervention are necessary. Classically, clinical features of tamponade include pulsus paradoxus, tachycardia, increased jugular venous pressure, and hypotension. With the advent of echocardiography, confirmation of an effusion and accurate assessment of its hemodynamic impact can be achieved, frequently in the absence of overt clinical manifestations. The decision regarding treatment and timing of intervention must take into account the clinical presentation and echocardiographic findings, along with careful weighing of risks and benefits to the individual patient. Echocardiographically guided pericardiocentesis is the best available therapy for initial management of cardiac tamponade. It is simple, safe, and effective for removing pericardial fluid and reversing hemodynamic instability, and the use of a pericardial catheter for extended drainage has been associated with significant reduction in recurrence of fluid accumulation.     

Delayed traumatic intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia associated with cardiac tamponade

We describe a case of delayed presentation of traumatic intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia associated with cardiac tamponade. A 71-year-old woman presented to our emergency department complaining of epigastric and midabdominal pain one month after hospitalization for multiple injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Chest radiograph showed a diaphragmatic hernia. In the ED, the patient became hypotensive and tachycardic with elevated central venous pressure. At surgery, she was found to have omentum and transverse colon herniated into the pericardial sac causing cardiac tamponade. The defect was repaired, and her postoperative course was uncomplicated. Cardiac tamponade should be included in the differential diagnosis of hypotension in patients with radiographic evidence of diaphragmatic hernia.     

Percutaneous balloon pericardial window for patients with malignant pericardial effusion and tamponade

We performed percutaneous balloon pericardial window (PBPW) in 8 patients (age 40 to 70 yrs; 4 men, 4 women) with malignant pericardial effusion and tamponade. Pericardial window was indicated because they continued to drain >100 ml/day of pericardial fluid through the pigtail catheter for >/3 days. A 0.038 inch guidewire was advanced through the pigtail catheter into the pericardial space and then the catheter was removed. A 20 mm diameter, 3 cm long balloon dilating catheter was advanced to straddle the parietal pericardium. Manual inflations were performed until the waist produced by the pericardium disappeared. All patients tolerated the procedure well with minimal discomfort and with no complications. A left or bilateral pleural effusion occurred in all patients after PBPW. No patient developed recurrent pericardial tamponade at a mean follow-up of 6 ± 2 months. Thus, PBPW is a useful and safe technique to avoid surgery in patients with malignant pericardial effusion and tamponade.     

Post-cardiac surgery tamponade mimicking acute hepatitis. Report of two cases.

Two patients developed cardiac tamponade from delayed hemorrhage into the pericardial sac following open heart surgery. The initial clinical manifestations of tamponade included nausea and dramatic elevations of serum aminotransferases, simulating acute hepatitis. To our knowledge, this presentation of cardiac tamponade has not been previously reported.     

Mediastinal Pancreatic Pseudocyst

Mediastinal extension of pancreatic pseudocysts is uncommon. Frequent presenting complaints include chest pain and shortness of breath. Dysphagia is rare. A patient with mediastinal pseudocyst causing dysphagia is presented. The role of gray-scale ultrasound as a reliable means of diagnosis is discussed.     

Malignant mediastinal schwannoma in Recklinghausen's disease presenting as cardiac tamponade. Report of two cases

The authors report two cases of Recklinghausen's disease admitted for cardiac tamponade. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed a pericardial tumour in addition to a compressive pericardial effusion. After pericardial drainage, the outcome was rapidly fatal. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a malignant intrapericardial schwannoma. A review of the literature revealed the scarcity of mediastinal malignant schwannoma. Associated with Von Reckinghausen's disease in 2 to 13% of cases, the prognosis is poor. The presentation of malignant mediastinal schwannoma with cardiac tamponade remains very rare.     

Massive gastric bleeding from pancreatic pseudocyst,caused by rupture of pseudoaneurysm

Massive bleeding into a pancreatic pseudocyst is an unusual but life-threatening clinical condition. In this report, we present a case of massive gastric hemorrhage from a pancreatic pseudocyst, caused by rupture of a pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery. The patient was successfully managed by total gastrectomy with splenectomy and distal pancreatectomy. Of a total of 66 cases in our Japanese literature review, only 5 cases of gastric hemorrhage associated with pancreatic pseudocyst have been reported, including the case herein presented. Diagnosis and therapeutic strategy are discussed.     

Pericardial tamponade and large pericardial effusions: causal factors and efficacy of percutaneous catheter drainage in 50 patients

In 50 patients treated from January 1998 through March 2002 for pericardial effusion and tamponade, we retrospectively investigated the efficacy of percutaneous placement of an indwelling pericardial catheter guided by 2-dimensional echocardiography and fluoroscopy. We also investigated causation. In 80% of the patients, we were able to determine specific causes through clinical, serologic, and cytologic investigation: cancer in 15 patients, chronic renal failure in 11, systemic lupus erythematosus in 2 rheumatoid arthritis in 2, Dressler syndrome in 2, tuberculosis in 1, blunt chest trauma in 1, purulent pericarditis in 1, and probably viral pericarditis in 5. No specific cause could be determined in 10 patients (20%). We did not observe any complication due to the procedure. Two patients died during hospitalization. After hospitalization, 9 patients with metastatic cancer died within 3 months. A 2nd percutaneous drainage procedure was required in 2 cancer patients. Recurrence of pericardial effusion and tamponade and the requirement of pericardiectomy occurred in 2 patients with perfusion of unknown cause and in 1 patient with perfusion due to rheumatoid arthritis. Histologic examination of pericardial tissue in patients with idiopathic disease showed fibrinous pericarditis but no causal factor. In the group with idiopathic pericardial effusion, 2 patients with multiple mediastinal lymphadenopathy underwent mediastinal exploration; biopsy revealed nonspecific lymphadenitis and fibrinous pericarditis. In patients with large pericardial effusions and tamponade, the specific cause was in most cases already known or obtained by initial clinical and laboratory investigation. Sufficient cardiac decompression was achieved by percutaneous pigtail catheter drainage.