Rapid relief of a postcardiotomy tamponade by manual subxiphoid decompression: a useful approach in the intensive care unit

Abstract

This case report presents a manual decompression technique used to decompress a postoperative tamponade compressing right chambers. It consists of lateral movements following subxiphoid finger insertion. This is an accessible procedure to rapidly stabilize the haemodynamics of the patient in the intensive care unit to buy time before operating room (OR) revision.