Localized pericardial tamponade: Does it always need exploration?

A 48-year-old female patient underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. One-hour after surgery, the patient developed hemodynamic instability. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was inconclusive. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed and it revealed localised collection around right...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Monish S Raut, Arun Maheshwari, Ganesh Shivnani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
Series:Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.annals.in/article.asp?issn=0971-9784;year=2014;volume=17;issue=1;spage=67;epage=69;aulast=Raut
Description
Summary:A 48-year-old female patient underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. One-hour after surgery, the patient developed hemodynamic instability. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was inconclusive. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed and it revealed localised collection around right atrium. In spite of the evidence of localized tamponade, wait and watch policy was employed rather than re-exploring the patient emergently. The patient recovered uneventfully. If hemodynamics remain stable and there is no fall in hematocrit and no increase in effusion on TEE/TTE examination, then localized tamponade can be managed conservatively without reexploring the patient.
ISSN:0971-9784