Related Experiment Videos
Teardrop sign: echocardiographic features in cardiac herniation
T S Tsang1, W K Freeman, F A Miller
1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Summary
Late cardiac herniation after pericardial window surgery can be fatal. This case highlights a rare instance of ventricular herniation occurring long after the initial surgical procedure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Medical Case Reports
Background:
- Acquired pericardial defects can lead to potentially fatal cardiac herniation.
- Symptoms typically arise within days following surgical procedures involving the pericardium.
Observation:
- This report details a patient experiencing late ventricular herniation.
- The herniation occurred subsequent to the surgical creation of an apical pericardial window.
Findings:
- Ventricular herniation can manifest significantly later than typically observed after pericardial procedures.
- Late presentation of cardiac herniation poses a diagnostic challenge.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering delayed complications after pericardial surgery.
- Suggests the need for long-term patient monitoring for rare cardiac events.
- Underscores the critical nature of acquired pericardial defects and their potential for delayed morbidity.