Cardiology in review
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Cardiology in review · Jul 2005
Review Case ReportsLeft ventricular cardiac tamponade in the setting of cor pulmonale and circumferential pericardial effusion. Case report and review of the literature.
Circumferential pericardial effusion typically results in biventricular tamponade and equalization of intracardiac and pericardial pressure during diastole. However, tamponade may involve the right or left ventricle. ⋯ This case illustrates that when evaluating patients with circumferential pericardial effusions and associated pulmonary hypertension, the typical findings of cardiac tamponade (pulsus paradoxus, right ventricular diastolic compression and hypotension) may be masked. The echocardiogram must be reviewed carefully as it may reveal left ventricular diastolic compression, the hallmark of LVCT, which may significantly compromise left ventricular filling and cardiac output.