Polymicrobial Purulent Pericarditis From a Pancreatico-Pericardial Fistula

Abstract

A 54-year-old male with chronic pancreatitis presented with dyspnea. Computed tomography scans demonstrated a subdiaphragmatic fluid collection with pericardial fistulization. Pericardial fluid cultures were polymicrobial in nature. Purulent pericarditis is rare but carries a high mortality rate. We present the first documented case of pancreatico-pericardial fistulization causing purulent pericarditis.

Keywords

• computed tomography
• imaging
• pancreatic pseudocyst
• pancreatitis
• pericardial effusion
• pericarditis