Korean J Med.  2012 Feb;82(2):221-226.

A Case of Acute Purulent Pericarditis Complicated by Severe Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction and Cardiac Tamponade

• Choi SJ
• Chung WB
• Kim HJ
• Yim SM
• Choi YS
• Park CS
• Lee MY

Abstract

An 85-year-old male visited our hospital because of dyspnea. Chest radiography showed marked cardiomegaly and pneumonic infiltration. Transthoracic echocardiography showed moderate pericardial effusion, which resulted in effusive constrictive pericarditis and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. During the hospital course, the patient developed cardiogenic shock and was treated with an inotropic agent and intra-aortic balloon pump. The patient's vital signs were stabilized after pericardiocentesis and drainage. A yellowish purulent pericardial effusion was drained and Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated. Bacterial purulent pericarditis was not uncommon before the antibiotics era, but it is extremely rare nowadays. Here, we report a case of purulent bacterial pericarditis presenting with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction and cardiac tamponade.

Keyword

Pericarditis; Cardiac tamponade; Ventricular dysfunction

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cardiac Tamponade
Cardiomegaly
Drainage
Dyspnea
Echocardiography
Humans
Male
Pericardial Effusion
Pericardiocentesis
Pericarditis
Pericarditis, Constrictive
Shock, Cardiogenic
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Thorax
Ventricular Dysfunction
Vital Signs
Anti-Bacterial Agents