Yonsei Med J.  2013 May;54(3):788-790. 10.3349/ymj.2013.54.3.788.

Cardiac Tamponade Complicated by Acupuncture: Hemopericardium due to Shredded Coronary Artery Injury

• Her AY
• Kim YH
• Ryu SM
• Cho JH

• KMID: 1727899
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2013.54.3.788

Abstract

We report a case of 62-year-old man with cardiac tamponade due to coronary artery injury after acupuncture into the substernum. After resuscitation of cardiac arrest, we performed emergent pericardiocentesis. Nevertheless, the cardiac arrest recurred, and the emergent operation on cardiopulmonary bypass was performed. We identified hemopericardium due to shredded acute marginal branch of right coronary artery, and it was ligated leading to termination of bleeding. The patient was discharged without any other complications.

Keyword

Cardiac tamponade; acupuncture; coronary artery

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture Therapy/*adverse effects
Cardiac Tamponade/*diagnosis/etiology
Coronary Vessels/*injuries
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pericardial Effusion/*diagnosis/etiology

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 This figure showed the acupuncture needle inserted into the bottom of xyphoid process. This was made of stainless steel and its size was about 6 cm long and 0.1 cm in diameter.

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  Fig. 2 (A) This figure showed huge hematomas surrounding right atrium and ventricle after median sternotomy. (B) The acute marginal branch of right coronary artery (black arrow) was torn into pieces, and it was ligated with suture leading to termination of bleeding.

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