[Cardiac tamponade in newborn infants with central venous catheter receiving parenteral nutrition]

To alert about an unusual and poorly informed entity, with high mortality. That should be considered in critically ill neonates with central venous catheter and parenteral nutrition, in order to establish early diagnosis and treatment.

Two neonates, one born at term and the other premature, with central venous catheter and parenteral nutrition. They had sudden unexplained hypotension and signs of decompensation and death secondary to cardiac tamponade.

Cardiac tamponade secondary to central venous catheter is an unusual entity seldom discussed in the literature. The estimated incidence is 0.3 to 2% with a 74 to 100% mortality. It must be suspected and diagnosed early in order to decrease the mortality.