Korean Circ J.  1999 May;29(5):523-527. 10.4070/kcj.1999.29.5.523.

Four Cases of Pericardial Tamponade Following Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty

• Choi JH
• Rhim CY
• Hong KS
• Park DG
• Doo YC
• Han KR
• Oh DJ
• Ryu KH
• Koh YB
• Lee KH
• Lee Y

• KMID: 1938496
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.1999.29.5.523

Abstract

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a relatively safe and effective procedure in the treatment of coronary artery disease, but complications related to dilating catheters and guide wires such as coronary artery dissection, spasm, rupture, and perforation can be. Pericardial tamponade is a rare complication of cardiac catheterization, and prompt diagnosis and proper management are important in lifesaving. We report 4 patients who developed pericardial tamponade following PTCA, presumably from coronary artery or right ventricular perforation. All 4 patients received heparin during PTCA and temporary pacemaker was placed in the right ventricle. Pericardial tamponade was recognized in the catheterization laboratory in 1 patient, within 3 hours after leaving the laboratory in 3 patients. Emergent pericardiocentesis was performed in all patients. Three patients recovered and one patient died.

Keyword

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; Pericardial tamponade; Pericardiocentesis

MeSH Terms

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary*
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac Catheters
Cardiac Tamponade*
Catheterization
Catheters
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Vessels
Diagnosis
Heart Ventricles
Heparin
Humans
Pericardiocentesis
Rupture
Spasm
Heparin