Dr. Divya E. Mukund
BACKGROUND Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency that requires pericardiocentesis. Most of the cases may be tuberculosis or malignant in aetiology. We wanted to assess the clinical profile and aetiology of pericardial effusion and 1-year outcome of these patients. METHODS Patients who presented with moderate to large pericardial effusion were evaluated clinically and with echocardiography for presence of cardiac tamponade. Subsequently analysis of fluid was done in those who underwent pericardiocentesis. RESULTS 59 patients fulfilled the criterion of moderate to large pericardial effusion and 45 of them underwent pericardiocentesis. Tuberculosis was the aetiology in 16 patients, 13 had malignant effusion and 7 patients had CKD. CONCLUSIONS There is a strong clinical correlation between pulses paradoxes and cardiac tamponade. Myocardial injury as evidenced by troponin I elevation was rarely seen. Development of chronic constrictive pericarditis is a rare event in a timely managed patient.
