Delayed cardiac tamponade in a patient with previous minor blunt chest trauma

Abstract

Hemopericardium with cardiac tamponade after non-penetrating chest trauma is a very rare but life-threatening condition. If this complication develops after an interval of several weeks following the non-penetrating chest trauma, the causal relation with the traumatic event is less evident, which may delay proper diagnosis and adequate treatment. We describe diagnosing and therapeutic management of a patient in shock who suffered from cardiac tamponade four weeks after a minor blunt chest trauma.