Cardiac tamponade from central venous catheters. Report of a case and review of the English literature

Abstract

A case of acute cardiac tamponade caused by an internal jugular central venous catheter which was successfully treated is reported. The English literature is reviewed and shows that tamponade can occur up to 37 days after insertion and has a 65% mortality. The tamponade is usually caused by the actual infusate and not by blood.