J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2010 Apr;21(2):271-274.

Cardiac Tamponade Due to Suture Material and this Manifested as Convulsion

• Kim HM
• Cho YS
• Lee MG
• Yoo BD
• Jun DH
• Kim HJ
• Lim H

Abstract

Cardiac tamponade is a potentially acute, life threatening emergency that can cause death if it is not promptly diagnosed and treated. Cardiac tamponade is a comparatively uncommon presentation to the emergency department and it is usually associated with penetrating trauma. We report here on a case of cardiac tamponade due to suture material that was used for colectomy ten years previously. A 17-year-old male was admitted to an emergency department with a complaint of loss of consciousness and convulsion. He also complained of chest pain, dyspnea and hypotension. After a while, he displayed cyanosis and his jugular veins were distended. The emergency echocardiogram showed a large amount of pericardial effusion with features of tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was immediately performed. Although 800 cc of fresh blood was drained from the pericardial cavity, his bleeding wouldn't stop. So, the patient was moved immediately to the operation room, and pericardiectomy and median sternotomy were performed. The surgeon found that the foreign suture material had penetrated the pericardium and he successfully removed it. The removed foreign body was a bundle of thread. The patient was discharged without any complications after 9 days.

Keyword

Cardiac tamponade; Wounds and injuries; Foreign bodies

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Cardiac Tamponade
Chest Pain
Colectomy
Cyanosis
Dyspnea
Emergencies
Foreign Bodies
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hypotension
Jugular Veins
Male
Pericardial Effusion
Pericardiectomy
Pericardium
Seizures
Sternotomy
Sutures
Unconsciousness