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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Utilizing Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: June 12, 2021
An unusual complication following pericardiocentesis: reversible left ventricular dysfunction
Francesco Versaci1, Roberto Donati, Roberto Mezzanotte
1aInvasive Cardiology Unit, Giovanni Battista Grassi Hospital - Tor Vergata University bDivision of Cardiology Giovanni Battista Grassi Hospital cDivision of Cardiovascular Surgery Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
We report a case of a 78-year-old woman admitted to hospital due to cardiac tamponade 3 months after surgical mitral valve repair. The patient developed an early left ventricular dysfunction after removal of the pericardial effusion, with complete recovery within 10 days. Transient ventricular dysfunction after pericardiocentesis is a very rare complication, we present a review of the different mechanisms suggested in the literature to explain the pathophysiology of this rare phenomenon.
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