Polymicrobial purulent pericarditis

A 63-year-old man had polymicrobial purulent pericarditis secondary to a silent esophageal perforation into the pericardium. His hospital course was complicated and prolonged. Defunctioning of his esophagus was needed to cure his pericarditis. The authors recommend an aggressive approach to his rare condition, emphasizing the importance of early defunctioning of the esophagus.