Worsening cardiac tamponade after pericardiocentesis in a patient with anterior mediastinum mass: a case report.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mediastinal mass is an entity with variable pathology and clinical spectrum. Anterior mediastinal mass can result in severe symptoms due to involvement of surrounding vital structures such as the great vessels, trachea-bronchial tree, and heart. We highlight a case of cardiac tamponade in a patient with an anterior mediastinal mass that was paradoxically worsened after decompressive pericardiocentesis.

Case summary

A 21-year-old male presented to the emergency department (ED) with breathlessness and hypotension. Bedside focused cardiac ultrasound revealed cardiac tamponade which was made worse with an anterior mediastinal mass compressing the right heart chambers. The patient was intubated for respiratory failure, following which an ultrasound-guided pericardiocen

SUBMITTER: Adi O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9395134 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature