Yonsei Med J.  2011 Jan;52(1):207-209. 10.3349/ymj.2011.52.1.207.

Hemopericardium Following Acupuncture

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Emergency Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea. stachy1@paran.com
  • 3Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.

Abstract

Acupuncture-related hemopericardium is a rare but potentially fatal complication. We describe a hemopericardium that occurred shortly after acupuncture in a 55-year-old woman. A chest CT scan and echocardiography revealed a hemopericardium, and pericardiocentesis was then immediately and successfully performed. Subsequently, her clinical course improved. This case increases the attention of emergency physicians for acupuncture-related complications, especially hemopericardium, and the necessity of rapid diagnosis and management.

Keyword

Acupuncture; hemopericardium; echocardiography; pericardio-centesis

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture Therapy/*adverse effects
Echocardiography
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Pericardial Effusion/*diagnosis/*etiology/surgery
Pericardiocentesis

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Chest x-ray and chest CT scan after tube thoracostomy shows hemopericardium (arrow).

  • Fig. 2 Chest X-ray and echocardiography after pericardiocentesis shows minimal pericardial effusion (arrow).


Cited by  2 articles

RE: Hemopericardium Following Acupuncture?
Tae-Hun Kim, Kun Hyung Kim, Jung Won Kang, Myeong Soo Lee
Yonsei Med J. 2011;52(2):377-378.    doi: 10.3349/ymj.2011.52.2.377.

Hemoperitoneum Resulting From Injuries to Liver with a Benign Vascular Tumor During Acupuncture: A Case Report
Sohyung Park, Han Young Lee
Korean J Leg Med. 2012;36(1):107-110.    doi: 10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.1.107.


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