Journal List > Korean J Perinatol > v.26(3) > 1013761

Yang, Shin, Lee, Yi, Kim, Yun, Chae, Lim, and Choi: Central Venous Catheter-related Cardiac Tamponade in Premature Infants: A Report of Two Cases and a Literature Review

Abstract

Although central catheter-related complications are frequently reported and are inevitable in the neonatal care unit, the incidence of pericardiac tamponade is low but may be fatal. Index of suspicion, prompt diagnosis, and urgent pericardiocentesis are crucial for lifesaving. We encountered two premature cases of central venous catheter-related pericardial tamponade. The first case was a 4-day-old male premature infant (gestational age [GA], 33+5 weeks; birth weight [BW], 1,864 g), and the second case was a 4-day-old female premature infant (GA, 28+6 week; BW, 1,050 g). Each infant had an indwelling central venous catheter since birth and at the third day of hospitalization. The conditions of the babies suddenly deteriorated, but both babies were successfully resuscitated with urgent echocardiography and prompt pericardiocentesis.

References

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Fig. 1.
An echocardiogram of case 1. The arrow indicates massive pericardial effusion with cardiac collapse.
kjp-26-250f1.tif
Fig. 2.
The yellow milky color of pericardial effusions (A. case 1, B. case2).
kjp-26-250f2.tif
Table 1.
Analysis of Pericardial Effusion Fluid
  Case 1 Case 2
Specific gravity 1.013 1.019
pH 6.62 5.81
RBC (mm3) 130 9
WBC (mm3) 80 3
Total protein (g/dL) 2.2 0.3
Lactate dehydrogenase (IU/L) 40 43
Glucose (mg/dL) 665 2705
Chloride (mEq/L) 103 76
Albumin (g/dL) 0.4 0.1
Amylase (IU/L) <10 <1
Sodium (mEq/L) 123 87
Potassium (mEq/L) 4.4 5.5
Total lipid (mg/dL) 524 184
Phospholipid (mg/dL) 27 23
Triglyceride (mg/dL) 501 167
LDL-cholesterol (mg/dL) 1 <2
HDL-cholesterol (mg/dL) 1 <1
Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 0 <1
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