Late Cardiac Tamponade in a Patient Victim of Penetrating Trauma – Case Report

Abstract

Case Presentation: A case of a 49-year-old patient, male, victim of stab wound, developing belatedly cardiac tamponade and hemodynamic stability was reported. The patient underwent a pericardial window with drainage of pericardial effusion of blackened aspect; however, without visualization of the cardiac lesion, enlargement of the incision by median sternotomy was opted for. A hematoma was spotted at the left ventricle with epicardial lesion and a patch of pericardium was made with 3-0 polypropylene. The patient developed acute pulmonary edema and atrial fibrillation, which improved after the intensive care unit clinical management, with hospital discharge in the 7 th postoperative day.

Cardiac tamponade and its medicolegal aspects: A case report

“…Some possible mechanisms proposed by various authors include a clot sealing a partial tear that allows a leak into the pericardial sac, secondary bleeding, clot lysis with hyper osmosis of the clot with fluid accumulation into the pericardium and post pericardiotomy syndrome. 8,9 Case 1. A 20-year-old male attended the emergency department of our institute alleging physical assault 45 min previously.…”