Pseudo Cardiac Tamponade Due to Excess Pericardial Fat
Author Information
Author(s): Nguyen Thang, Kumar Kanwal, Francis Andrew, Walker Jonathan R, Raabe Michael, Zieroth Shelley, Jassal Davinder S
Primary Institution: University of Manitoba
Hypothesis
Can excessive pericardial fat mimic cardiac tamponade physiology in post-MI patients?
Conclusion
Excessive pericardial fat can mimic cardiac tamponade physiology, which resolved after surgical intervention.
Supporting Evidence
- Cardiac tamponade is caused by pericardial effusion, which can be difficult to differentiate from pericardial fat on echocardiography.
- The patient had a 25 mm pericardial effusion and severe left ventricular dysfunction.
- Surgery revealed excessive epicardial fat but no pericardial fluid.
Takeaway
Sometimes, too much fat around the heart can look like there's fluid causing problems, but it can be fixed with surgery.
Methodology
Case report detailing the clinical presentation, echocardiographic findings, and surgical intervention of a patient.
Limitations
Only one case is presented, limiting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
A 66-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and peripheral vascular disease.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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