[Cardiac tamponade following open-heart surgery (author's transl)]

Cardiac tamponade occurred in 9 (1,8%) of 488 patients following open-heart surgery. Delayed cardiac tamponade was observed in one case (0,2%). The mediastinal tamponade was caused by early occlusion of the chest tubes, pericardium closure and administration of anticoagulants. A reliable sign of mediastinal tamponade is the expanding cardiac silhouette demonstrated by roentgenogram. In outpatients receiving anticoagulants following open-heart procedures a life-threatening delayed cardiac tamponade may develop.