Delayed diagnosis of cardiac temponade following isolated blunt abdominal trauma

Abstract

Traumatic haemopericardium is an uncommon but life threatening condition. It is usually caused by penetrating cardiac injuries or cardiac rupture from blunt chest trauma. We report haemopericardium and cardiac tamponade in a young girl after blunt abdominal trauma. She presented with mild upper abdominal pain, tachycardia and hypotension having been kicked in the abdomen by a horse. No damage was found at laparotomy and she remained haemodynamically unstable. Further investigation found cardiac tamponade and haemopericardium. This was managed by insertion of a pericardial drain using transthoracic echocardiogram guidance, with later drainage in the operating theatre using guidance with a transoesophageal echocardiogram.