A cardiac tamponade that does not require pericardiocentesis; a Letter to Editor

Abstract

Cardiac tamponade is a leading cause of death in patients with aortic dissection (1). When aortic dissection is accompanied by cardiac tamponade, emergency surgery to repair the aorta is required (2). The treatment approach for this group of patients differs from other cases with pericardial effusions, and percutaneous pericardiocentesis is contraindicated. Attempting pericardiocentesis in this type of tamponade leads to increased leakage from the aorta into the pericardium, worsening the patient's condition(3). In approximately one-third of patients, transudation of blood across the thin layers of the aorta and into the pericardial space results in an insignificant pericardial effusion due to the blood entering the pericardial cavity (4).

Keywords

• Letter to Editor
• cardiac tamponade