The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 36, 353-358, Copyright © 1983 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Right ventricular outflow obstruction secondary to right-sided tamponade following myocardial trauma
TF Phillips, A Rodriguez and RA Cowley
A case of isolated tamponade of the right side of the heart, seen as an
abrupt change in the cardiac silhouette and as right ventricular outflow
obstruction following myocardial trauma, is presented, along with a review
of the English-language literature on delayed postoperative tamponade and
loculated pericardial effusion. The importance of a low, fixed cardiac
output and nonspecific physical findings in suggesting the clinical
diagnosis is emphasized. The absence of many of the classic signs and
symptoms of pericardial tamponade is noted, as is the possibility of
unusual changes in the appearance or function of the heart in the presence
of a loculated effusion. Finally, the differential diagnosis and the
results of a variety of diagnostic techniques are discussed.
