SEVERE RIGHT VENTRICULAR FAILURE FOLLOWING PERICARDIOCENTESIS: A CASE
REPORT OF PERICARDIAL DECOMPRESSION SYNDROME
Abstract
Pericardial decompression syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal
complication following needle or surgical pericardiocentesis and should
be recognized as paradoxical hemodynamic deterioration. The exact
pathophysiology of pericardial decompression syndrome is unknown but is
likely that several mechanisms involving hemodynamic, ischemic and
autonomic imbalance lead to the clinical manifestation of this entity.
There is no specific treatment for pericardial decompression syndrome
other than supportive care, however, early interventions such as
aggressive heart failure therapy, inotropic medications and sometimes
mechanical circulatory support should be implement as mortality can be
as high as 30%. We report a patient presenting with severe right
ventricular failure and cardiogenic shock secondary to PDS.