Korean Circ J.  1999 Oct;29(10):1129-1132. 10.4070/kcj.1999.29.10.1129.

A Case of Cardiac Tamponade due to Penetration of the Right Ventricule by an Acupunture Needle

• Lee BK
• Lee SH
• Ko JY
• Yoo BS
• Yoon J
• Choe KH
• Park SI
• Oh JH
• Lee KH
• Hwang SO

• KMID: 2093727
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.1999.29.10.1129

Abstract

The heart may be critically damaged by objects of unimpressive size or appearance. We report a case of cardiac tamponade due to penetration of the right ventricle by an acupunture needle. A 59-year-old man was admitted due to dyspnea and chest pain. He had recieved acupuncture therapy during 10 years for chronic right upper abdominal pain. He was diagnosed as cardiac tamponade due to hemopericardium caused by an broken a cupuncture needle detected on fluoroscopy, computerized tomography and trans-esophageal echocardiography, and the needle was successfully removed by cardiac surgery. The patient was discharged uneventfully and followed at the outpatient department.

Keyword

Acupunture needle; Cardiac tamponade; Hemopericardium; Open heart surgery

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Acupuncture Therapy
Cardiac Tamponade*
Chest Pain
Dyspnea
Echocardiography
Fluoroscopy
Heart
Heart Ventricles
Humans
Middle Aged
Needles*
Outpatients
Pericardial Effusion
Thoracic Surgery