Does this patient with a pericardial effusion have cardiac tamponade?

CONTEXT

Cardiac tamponade is a state of hemodynamic compromise resulting from cardiac compression by fluid trapped in the pericardial space. The clinical examination may assist in the decision to perform pericardiocentesis in patients with cardiac tamponade diagnosed by echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the accuracy of the history, physical examination, and basic diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE search of English-language articles published between 1966 and 2006, reference lists of these articles, and reference lists of relevant textbooks.

STUDY SELECTION

We included articles that compared aspects of the clinical examination to a reference standard for the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade. We excluded studies with fewer than 15 patients. Of 787 studies identified by our search strategy, 8 were included in our final analysis.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two authors independently reviewed articles for study results and quality. A third reviewer resolved disagreements.

DATA SYNTHESIS

All studies evaluated patients with known tamponade or those referred for pericardiocentesis with known effusion. Five features occur in the majority of patients with tamponade: dyspnea (sensitivity range, 87%-89%), tachycardia (pooled sensitivity, 77%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 69%-85%), pulsus paradoxus (pooled sensitivity, 82%; 95% CI, 72%-92%), elevated jugular venous pressure (pooled sensitivity, 76%; 95% CI, 62%-90%), and cardiomegaly on chest radiograph (pooled sensitivity, 89%; 95% CI, 73%-100%). Based on 1 study, the presence of pulsus paradoxus greater than 10 mm Hg in a patient with a pericardial effusion increases the likelihood of tamponade (likelihood ratio, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.8-6.3), while a pulsus paradoxus of 10 mm Hg or less greatly lowers the likelihood (likelihood ratio, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.24).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with cardiac tamponade, a minority will not have dyspnea, tachycardia, elevated jugular venous pressure, or cardiomegaly on chest radiograph. A pulsus paradoxus greater than 10 mm Hg among patients with a pericardial effusion helps distinguish those with cardiac tamponade from those without. Diagnostic certainty of the presence of tamponade requires additional testing.

Three-dimensional echocardiographic appearances of pericardial effusion with tamponade

A patient with pericardial effusion and tamponade was studied by routine two-dimensional as well as three-dimensional echocardiogram. Chamber "collapses" of the right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, and inferior vena cava were visualized by both modalities, but were better appreciated on three-dimensional echo imaging, perhaps because three-dimensional echo imaging is more suited to depicting three-dimensional changes in chamber shape.

Pericardial tamponade masquerading as septic shock

A 53-year-old man with steroid dependent rheumatoid arthritis presented with fever and serous articular drainage. Oral antibiotics were initially prescribed. Subsequent hemodynamic instability was attributed to septic shock. Further evaluation revealed a pericardial effusion with tamponade. Pericardiocentesis of purulent fluid promptly corrected the hypotension. Proteus mirabilis was later isolated from both the infected joint and the pericardial fluid. This is the first report of combined Proteus mirabilis septic arthritis and purulent pericarditis. It documents the potential for atypical transmission of Gram-negative pathogens, to the pericardium, in patients with a high likelihood of preexisting pericardial disease. In immunocompromised patients, the typical signs and symptoms of pericarditis may be absent, and the clinical presentation of pericardial tamponade may be misinterpreted as one of septic shock. This case underscores the value of a careful physical examination and proper interpretation of ancillary studies. It further illustrates the importance of initial antibiotic selection and the need for definitive treatment of septic arthritis in immunocompromised patients.

Respiratory changes in the pulse-oximetry waveform associated with pericardial tamponade

BACKGROUND

Timely identification of hemodynamic compromise in patients with acute pericardial effusion and tamponade is critical in patient management. Respiratory variability in pulse-oximetry waveforms has been correlated with pulsus paradoxus, but has not been reported with cardiac tamponade in adult patients.

HYPOTHESIS

This study describes changes in respiratory variability in pulse-oximetry waveform pre and post pericardiocentesis in patients with hemodynamically significant pericardial effusions.

METHODS

A single-center, catheterization laboratory hemodynamic database was reviewed for all patients who underwent pericardiocentesis for clinically suspected tamponade and had continuous digital pulse-oximetry, electrocardiographic, and respiration waveforms recorded during the procedure. Phasic respiratory changes in pulse-oximetry waveform amplitude (maxima-minima) were expressed as an expiratory/inspiratory ratio and compared pre and post pericardiocentesis.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 12 patients (6 men:6 women, age 60 +/- 10 years) with pericardial effusion documented by echocardiography on the day of pericardiocentesis. Phasic respiratory variability in the pulse-oximetry waveform was evident in all patients prior to aspiration (respiratory ratio = 1.9 +/- 0.5). Following pericardiocentesis (aspirated volume: 650 +/- 300 ml), the respiratory ratio decreased in all patients (1.2 +/- 0. 1, p = 0.001). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis suggests that pulse-oximetry respiratory ratios > or = 1.5 should raise suspicion of hemodynamic compromise in high-risk populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulse-oximetry is a commonly used tool for monitoring critically ill patients. The present study suggests that increased respiratory variability in the pulse-oximetry waveform should raise suspicion for hemodynamic compromise in patients at risk for pericardial effusion.

Cardiac tamponade revisited: a postmortem look at a cautionary case

Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening clinical syndrome that requires timely diagnosis. Herein, we present an instructive case of a patient who had cardiac tamponade. The condition went undiagnosed and resulted in the patient's death because almost all of the pathognomonic clinical findings of tamponade were unrecognized or not manifest. To better prepare health care professionals for similar challenges, we discuss the symptoms and clinical signs typical of cardiac tamponade, review the medical literature, and highlight current investigative methods that enable quick, efficient diagnosis and treatment.

Pulsus paradoxus in cardiac tamponade: a pathophysiologic continuum

Pulsus paradoxus has interested physicians for more than a century. Since McGregor's comprehensive New England Journal of Medicine article in 1979, there have been no updated reviews; accordingly, we review pulsus paradoxus based on the clinical and physiologic literature and personal experience.

Low-Pressure Cardiac Tamponade

BACKGROUND

Low-pressure cardiac tamponade is a form of cardiac tamponade in which a comparatively low pericardial pressure results in cardiac compression because of low filling pressure. This syndrome is poorly characterized because only isolated cases have been reported. We conducted a study of its clinical and hemodynamic profiles.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From 1986 through 2004, we evaluated all patients at our institution with combined pericardiocentesis and cardiac catheterization. We identified those patients who fulfilled catheterization-based criteria of low-pressure cardiac tamponade and compared their clinical and catheterization data with those of patients with classic tamponade. A total of 1429 patients with pericarditis were evaluated, 279 of whom underwent combined pericardiocentesis and catheterization. Criteria of low-pressure cardiac tamponade were met in 29, whereas 114 had criteria of classic cardiac tamponade. Patients with low-pressure tamponade less frequently had clinical signs of tamponade, but the rate of constitutional symptoms, use of diuretics, and echocardiographic findings of tamponade were similar in both groups. Patients with low-pressure tamponade showed a significant increase in cardiac output after pericardiocentesis, but they usually had less severe cardiac tamponade compared with patients with classic tamponade. Prognosis was related mainly to the underlying disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-pressure cardiac tamponade was identified in 20% of patients with catheterization-based criteria of tamponade. Clinical recognition may be difficult because of the absence of typical physical findings of tamponade in most patients. Although some patients are critically ill, most show a stable clinical condition. However, these patients obtain a clear benefit from pericardiocentesis.

Surgical Treatment of a Primary Cardiac Lymphoma Presenting With Tamponade Physiology

Primary cardiac lymphomas (PCL) are rare cardiac neoplasms that carry an ominous prognosis. They occur more frequently in immunocompromised patients. We report on an immunocompetent 67-year-old who presented with dyspnea and dysphagia. Echocardiographic evidence of impending cardiac tamponade and obstruction of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with the tumor was seen. The deteriorating hemodynamics of our patient prompted an urgent surgical intervention. Pathohistological diagnosis showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of centroblastic subtype. Chemotherapy remains the standard treatment of PCL, with surgery reserved for relieving life-threatening complications of the neoplasm.

Clinicopathological study of cardiac tamponade due to pericardial metastasis originating from gastric cancer

AIM

To review the cases reported in the literature, examined their clinicopathological features, and evaluated the efficacy of different therapeutic modalities for this rare condition.

METHODS

A search of the MEDLINE database revealed 16 cases of pericarditis carcinomatosa (PC) originating from GC reported in the literature between 1982 and 2005. Additional detailed data were obtained from the authors of these studies for subsequent clinicopathological investigation. We have also described about a case study from our own clinic.

RESULTS

The mean age of cases with pericarditis carcinomatosa originating from GC was 54 years. Females were diagnosed at a younger age (46.3 years) compared to males (58 years). The mean survival period after diagnosis was 4.5 mo. No statistical differences in the length of survival time were found between different therapeutic modalities, such as drainage, and local and/or systemic chemotherapy after drainage. However, three cases who underwent systemic chemotherapy survived for more than 10 mo. Cases that developed metachronous cardiac tamponade for more than 2 years after the diagnosis of GC generally survived for a longer period of time, although this was not statistically significant. Multivariate analysis revealed that low levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CEA and/or cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) were associated with longer survival.

CONCLUSION

Cases with low levels of CEA, and CEA and/or CA 19-9 should undergo systemic chemotherapy with or without local chemotherapy after drainage.

Paradoxical decrease in blood pressure after relief of cardiac tamponade: the role of sympathetic activity

BACKGROUND

In contrast to patients who develop acute cardiac tamponade after penetrating trauma, tamponade in medical patients may be accompanied by normal or even elevated systolic blood pressure. This has been attributed to heightened sympathetic nervous system activity.

CASE REPORT

We present a case of a medical patient with simultaneous hypertension and cardiac tamponade whose blood pressure fell dramatically after pericardiocentesis. We observed a decrease in normetanephrine levels in our patient concomitant with the decrease in blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case provides further support for involvement of the sympathetic nervous system in medical patients with hypertensive tamponade. To our knowledge, this is the first case documenting adrenergic status in a patient with a paradoxical decrease in blood pressure after relief of tamponade.

Cardiac Tamponade due to Pneumopericardium

We describe a newborn with acute respiratory distress syndrome, subjected to mechanical ventilatory assistance with high level of peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), who developed cardiac tamponade due to pneumopericardium. Tension pneumopericardium produces the same physiological derangement as cardiac tamponade secondary to accumulated blood or other fluids. This life-threatening complication demands immediate diagnosis and treatment.

Cardiac tamponade associated with a peripheral vein central venous catheter

We present a case of cardiac tamponade associated with placement of a central venous catheter (CVC) via a peripheral vein in a 14-year-old girl with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing corrective surgery. A number of complications have been described in association with CVC misplacement. Sporadic cases of cardiac tamponade from this have been reported, but the actual incidence is unknown. Death from cardiac tamponade attributed to CVCs ranges from 65 to 100%. In our patient, cannulation of the pericardiophrenic vein was probably the cause of cardiac tamponade, based on radiological evidence that the initial location of the catheter was near the right atrium and possibly at the outlet of the pericardiophrenic vein. The catheter could have advanced into the vein and then to the pericardial sac with postural changes. The acute clinical course of cardiac tamponade in our patient had potentially lethal hemodynamic repercussions. The main diagnostic test for this condition is echocardiography and the only effective treatment is drainage of the pericardial effusion. Echocardiography should be performed before pericardiocentesis except in life-threatening situations or high clinical suspicion. Although they are rare, it is important to be aware of the potential for CVC complications.

Decrease in fluoroscopic cardiac silhouette excursion precedes hemodynamic compromise in intraprocedural tamponade

BACKGROUND

Acute pericardial tamponade is a life-threatening complication of invasive cardiovascular procedures. Survival depends on early recognition and treatment. A diagnostic test to detect pericardial fluid accumulation before a significant fall in blood pressure and without contamination of the sterile field would be valuable.

OBJECTIVE

We tested the hypothesis that fluoroscopic excursion of the cardiac silhouette decreases early in the course of acute pericardial tamponade and precedes hemodynamic compromise.

METHODS

The pericardial space of seven pigs was accessed by a sub-xiphoid puncture. Tamponade was produced by intrapericardial saline infusion at 20-25 mL/minute until the pericardial pressure equalized with right ventricular end diastolic pressure or the systolic blood pressure reached 40 mmHg. Supine fluoroscopic images were obtained every 2 minutes in the left anterior oblique view with simultaneous echocardiography. The fluoroscopic heart silhouette was digitized, and the maximum excursion during the cardiac cycle was quantified by custom software. The qualitative excursion of the fluoroscopic heart silhouette on randomly selected video images was also graded by two independent observers who were blinded to the time course of the experiment and the hemodynamics.

RESULTS

During progressive pericardial fluid accumulation, the cardiac silhouette excursion quantified by the custom software (p < 0.001) and by video rating (p < 0.0001) was significantly reduced within 2 minutes. A statistically significant fall in blood pressure compared with baseline did not occur until 6 minutes (89 +/- 21 vs. 121 +/- 15 mmHg, p < 0.001). The interobserver agreement was very close, with a kappa statistic of 0.78. The reduction in cardiac silhouette excursion was apparent as soon as the effusion was detected by echocardiography.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac silhouette excursion becomes reduced early in the course of acute pericardial fluid accumulation. This fluoroscopic observation can be used to detect impending pericardial tamponade before hemodynamic collapse.