Pyopericardium manifesting as cardiac tamponade: A rare presentation of a common disease

Abstract

Pyopericardium is a rare fatal pericardial disease. It manifesting as cardiac tamponade is rare and because of tuberculosis is extremely rare. We present the case of a 20-year-old female who presented with worsening dyspnea, low-grade fever, and weight loss. Echocardiography showed pericardial effusion with tamponade. After pericardiocentesis, the purulent aspirate on analysis confirmed the etiology as tuberculosis. The patient improved after the initiation of antituberculosis therapy and steroids.

Keywords

• antitubercular therapy
• cardiac tamponade
• pericardiocentesis
• pyopericardium
• tuberculosis