[Thoracoscopic treatment in pericardial tamponade]

Pericardial tamponade is a rare medical emergency in children. We describe a 16 years old patient, who presented with pneumonia localized in upper left lobe complicated with lung abscess and ipsilateral pleural effusion, associated with pericardial effusion. The initial treatment was: broad-spectrum antibiotics, left thoracic drenage and pericardiocentesis After 24 hours postoperative, developed circulatory collapse with significant increase in pericardial effusion. The preoperative studies were thoracic CT-scann and echocardiography, showing an increase of pericardial effusion with no major changes in lung pathology. We performed a pericardial window by right thoracoscopic. After this, quickly improved clinically and the echocardiography 24 hours postoperatively was normal. The thoracoscopic approach in cases of pericardial tamponade is an useful alternative, benefiting the patient of minimally invasive approaches.