Hemopericardium and Cardiac Tamponade in a Patient with an Elevated International Normalized Ratio

Hemopericardium and Cardiac Tamponade in a Patient with an Elevated International Normalized Ratio

This case report describes a 54-year-old male on warfarin for atrial fibrillation who presented to the emergency department (ED) following a syncopal episode with persistent hypotension. The patient’s International Normalized Ratio (INR) returned elevated at 6.0, and a rapid bedside cardiac ultrasou...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Levis, Joel T, Delgado, Mucio C
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eScholarship Publishing, University of California 2009-05-01
Series:Western Journal of Emergency Medicine
Subjects:
hemopericardium
tamponade
anticoagulation
ultrasound
Online Access:http://escholarship.org/uc/item/0n0525k4
Description
Summary:This case report describes a 54-year-old male on warfarin for atrial fibrillation who presented to the emergency department (ED) following a syncopal episode with persistent hypotension. The patient’s International Normalized Ratio (INR) returned elevated at 6.0, and a rapid bedside cardiac ultrasound revealed a large pericardial effusion consistent with cardiac tamponade. The anticoagulation was reversed and the patient underwent successful pericardiocentesis with removal of 1,100 mL of blood. [WestJEM. 2009;10:115-119.]
ISSN:1936-900X
1936-9018

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