Pericardiocentesis for COVID-19 Associated Cardiac Tamponade Using a Central Venous Catheter in Rural Australia: A...

Pericardiocentesis is a high-acuity, low-occurrence procedure rarely performed by emergency and retrieval clinicians. We present a case of cardiac tamponade secondary to coronavirus disease 2019 managed with prehospital pericardiocentesis in remote Australia, 800 km from the nearest hospital. This was performed using a quadruple-lumen central venous catheter. The procedure significantly improved the patient's clinical state, enabling a safe transfer via fixed wing aircraft to a tertiary center. In this report, we highlight that the ability to diagnose cardiac tamponade in coronavirus disease 2019-positive patients and perform pericardiocentesis under point-of-care ultrasound guidance can be lifesaving.