Giant Pericardial Lipoma Inducing Cardiac Tamponade and New Onset Atrial Flutter

Although pericardial lipomas are both rare and benign, rapid or excessive growth can induce potentially fatal conditions such as pericarditis, arrhythmia, and cardiac tamponade. This case illustrates an example where a 65-year-old with atypical chest tightness unveiled a 10×15 cm anterior pericardia...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Connor Charles Kerndt, Alexander Michael Balinski, Hayk Vahe Papukhyan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2020-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Cardiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/6937126
Description
Summary:Although pericardial lipomas are both rare and benign, rapid or excessive growth can induce potentially fatal conditions such as pericarditis, arrhythmia, and cardiac tamponade. This case illustrates an example where a 65-year-old with atypical chest tightness unveiled a 10×15 cm anterior pericardial mass with circumferential effusion and progressive deterioration to cardiac tamponade. Initial transthoracic echocardiogram imaging was technically difficult in this patient due to habitus and body mass, which failed to illustrate underlying effusion. Recurrent bouts of refractory supraventricular tachycardia prompted further investigation of this patient’s presentation with transesophageal echocardiogram, which showed evidence of an echogenic mass with cardiac tamponade. An urgent pericardial window and pericardial lipectomy immediately relieved this hemodynamically compromising condition. Subsequent atrial flutter resulted with the removal of the anterior fat pad during surgery, complicating recovery.
ISSN:2090-6404
2090-6412