Hemopericardium and Acute Cardiac Tamponade

HEMOPERICARDIUM leading to acute cardiac tamponade is a true emergency. The accompanying transesophageal echocardiography images exhibit such an occurrence. A significant effusion is layering both the ventricles (top panel). A large clot in the pericardial space is compressing the free wall of the right ventricle (bottom panel). Being thin-walled, the right atrium is most prone to compression (see video, Supplemental Digital Content,http://links.lww.com/ALN/B571, which demonstrates clot impinging on right atrium). Common causes include malignancy, aortic dissection, myocardial wall rupture, cardiac surgery, and chest trauma.1 –3
Source: Anesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research