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Research Symposium

Cardiac tamponade

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Full-Text Articles in Internal Medicine

A Swinging Heart: Relevance Of Point Of Care Ultrasound In The Diagnosis Of An Atypical Complication Of Acute Pericarditis, Oscar Rodrigo Zamudio Herrera, Nevin Varghese Sep 2023

A Swinging Heart: Relevance Of Point Of Care Ultrasound In The Diagnosis Of An Atypical Complication Of Acute Pericarditis, Oscar Rodrigo Zamudio Herrera, Nevin Varghese

Research Symposium

Background: Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening condition, that results from progressive or acute accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space impairing cardiac hemodynamics. It is a rare complication of acute pericarditis. About two-thirds of acute pericarditis present with pericardial effusion. Of which, hemodynamic instability is seen in 3-5% of the cases. Point of Care Ultrasound is a cost-effective tool that aids in the prompt identification of life-threatening conditions such as tamponade.

Case presentation: 36-year-old male presented with complaints of fever and dyspnea on exertion for 4 days. He reported being tachycardic at home on his personal pulse oximeter. Past medical …