[Pericardial tamponade as a complication of the use of peripheral percutaneous silastic catheters]

We report on two cases of cardiac tamponade by pericardial infusion in premature infants. In both infants an infusion was given via a Silastic central venous catheter. Because of the cardiac tamponade resuscitation and pericardiocentesis had to be performed. Both infants survived this serious complication of a central venous catheter.