Cardiac tamponade as a complication of parenteral nutrition

Introduction: Complications arising from the use of central venous catheters are numerous, but cardiac tamponade is a complication well defined, very rare and often fatal. The mortality rate is 47-77% in the literature.

Presentation of case: We report a case of successful diagnosis and treatment of cardiac tamponade by parenteral nutrition in a 31-year-old female.

Discussion: There are only few cases of cardiac tamponade reported in the world literature since 1958. The true incidence is unclear and the most cases occur in children. Despite the rarity of this condition, it has a high mortality rate. The clinical findings are pain and discomfort in the epigastrium and chest region, nausea, dyspnea, tachycardia, distended jugular veins, paradoxical pulse, hypotension, electrocardiographic tracing signals with low voltage and enlargement of cardiac area. The immediate diagnosis and the treatment of cardiac tamponade are capital for patient survival.

Conclusion: Cardiac tamponade should be suspected among patients with sudden onset of shock in use of parenteral nutrition, and therefore immediately treated.