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A rare late complication of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia repair
Author(s) -
Weir A.,
Bartlett E.,
Bowling K.,
Andrews S.,
Guest T.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
anaesthesia reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2637-3726
DOI - 10.1002/anr3.12008
Subject(s) - medicine , pericardiocentesis , surgery , pericardium , pericardial effusion , cardiac tamponade , complication , diaphragmatic hernia , diaphragmatic breathing , thoracotomy , tamponade , radiology , hernia , alternative medicine , pathology
Summary We report a case of sudden cardiovascular collapse several weeks following surgical repair of a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. The patient presented with features of circulatory shock without a clear diagnosis, therefore an urgent computed tomography scan of the chest and abdomen was undertaken, which revealed a pericardial effusion with evidence of cardiac tamponade. Ultrasound‐guided needle pericardiocentesis with aspiration of blood from the pericardial sac in the Emergency Department provided an immediate response and her cardiac output improved. On review of the imaging, it is likely a surgically‐placed permanent metallic fixation device, sitting near the pericardium, caused bleeding into the pericardial sac due to local trauma as a delayed postoperative complication.