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Pyogenic Pericarditis Leading to Cardiac Arrest: a Case Report Highlighting POCUS-Guided Pericardiocentesis

Nadine Ajami1, Brian Kohen1, Donny Perez1

  • 1Memorial Healthcare System, Hollywood, FL, USA.

POCUS Journal
|May 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) rapidly diagnosed purulent pericardial tamponade in a cardiac arrest patient. Ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis successfully drained the infection, improving hemodynamics and highlighting POCUS utility.

Area of Science:

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Disease

Background:

  • Cardiac arrest is a critical condition often requiring rapid diagnosis and intervention.
  • Pericardial tamponade, a complication of pericardial effusion, can lead to cardiac arrest.
  • Purulent pericarditis is a rare but life-threatening cause of pericardial tamponade.

Keywords:
Cardiac POCUSCardiac arrestCardiac tamponadePOCUSPericardiocentesisPurulent effusionPyogenic pericarditis

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