Delayed presentation of pericardial tamponade following blunt chest trauma. Issue 3 (10th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matthia, Eldon; Altshuler, Ellery; Naik, Dhaval K
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 14:Issue 3(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03-10
• Subjects: cardiovascular medicine -- pericardial disease -- interventional cardiology; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-240317
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : We present a case of delayed-onset pericardial tamponade nine weeks after a blunt chest trauma. The patient is a 77-year-old man who presented with shortness of breath nine weeks after fracturing his sternum in a head-on motor vehicle collision. CT and echocardiography revealed a massive pericardial effusion prompting pericardiocentesis. Eight hundred millilitres (mL) of fluid were drained, which rapidly improved his symptoms. This is the longest reported interval between the development of tamponade and a blunt chest trauma. Our case illustrates the importance of maintaining a clinical suspicion for effusion and tamponade even weeks after non-penetrating chest wall injuries.