Acute pulmonary edema following pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade

Pericardiocentesis for therapeutic drainage of pericardial fluid may be associated with a variety of complications, including laceration of the right ventricle or coronary artery, arrhythmias, viscus perforation, hypotension, pneumothorax, adult respiratory distress syndrome and death. Hemodynamic derangements such as acute left ventricular failure, pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock are infrequent and, hence, less well recognized. The present report describes a patient with pericardial effusion and tamponade who developed cardiogenic shock requiring inotropic support shortly following uncomplicated ultrasound-guided pericardial drainage.