[Cardiac tamponade as a cause for exploratory laparatomy - a case report]

We present a case of 39-year-old male with symptomatic cardiac tamponade due to neoplastic disease. Because of abdominal symptoms the patient was diagnosed as having acute abdomen and underwent exploratory laparatomy which revealed enlarged liver and ascites. Correct diagnosis was established later by echocardiography and effective pericardiocentesis was performed. Diagnostic difficulties in patients with cardiac tamponade are discussed.