Cardiac tamponade as a complication of bronchogenic cyst

Bronchogenic cysts are rare incidental findings, but they can have life-threatening complications. Herein, we report a case of a 44-year-old man who presented with complaints of left-sided chest pain, intermittent dyspnea, and pink-tinged sputum. Computed tomography angiography of the chest revealed a large cystic mediastinal mass in the subcarinal location. During his hospital stay, the patient became hypotensive with jugular venous distention and muffled heart sounds on auscultation. A stat echocardiogram depicted a large pericardial effusion with early diastolic collapse of the right ventricle. Pericardiocentesis was performed for cardiac tamponade, followed by thoracotomy with removal of bronchogenic cyst. Herein, we highlight the relation between bronchogenic cysts and cardiac tamponade and review the surgical treatment options.