The value of a newly described echocardiographic sign for the detection of cardiac tamponade was retrospectively evaluated in 91 patients. M-mode echocardiograms were reviewed in 86 patients, 36 of whom had concurrent two-dimensional echocardiographic examinations; in five patients, only two-dimensional echocardiography was performed. Cardiac tamponade was clinically present in 17 patients, 14 ...

Introduction. Catheter-based diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are rapidly advancing. However, catheter related complications sometimes become life threatening. Cardiac tamponade is a rare but serious complication of this procedure. We have summarized one cardiac tamponade pejoration due to secondary coronary vessels laceration by the implanted pericardial drainage. Case report. A 4-year-ol...

BACKGROUND Primary idiopathic chylopericardium is a rare clinical entity characterized by the accumulation of chyle within the pericardial cavity without a definitive cause. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical presentation, etiology, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of primary idiopathic chylopericardium. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 9 cases of patients who suffered from...

BACKGROUND Hydrodynamic forces play a central role in organ morphogenesis. The role of blood flow in shaping the developing heart is well established, but the role of fluid forces generated in the pericardial cavity surrounding the heart is unknown. Mesothelial cells lining the pericardium generate the proepicardium (PE), the precursor cell population of the epicardium, the outer layer covering...

INTRODUCTION Pericardial lipomas are rare clinical findings. We describe a case of pericardial/epicardial lipoma seen recently at our hospital. CLINICAL PICTURE A 68-year-old lady presented with a 1-year history of dull aching upper abdominal pain. A chest X-ray revealed a large mass lesion in the right hemithorax. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest defined the nature of the lesion. C...

Pericardial fluid (PF) is often considered to be reflection of the serum by which information regarding the physiological status of the heart can be obtained. Some local and systemic disorders may perturb the balance between synthesis and discharge of PF and may cause its aberrant accumulation in the pericardial cavity as pericardial effusion (PE). PE may then lead to an increased intrapericard...

Pomacea canaliculata is a common gastropod in freshwater habitats from Central and Northern Argentina, extending northwards into the Amazon basin. Several Platyhelminthes have been reported associated to P. canaliculata, sharing an intimate relationship with this gastropod host. The objectives of this study were to describe the symbiotic species assemblages associated to P. canaliculata in the ...

During the winter of 1913 there was found in our laboratory an infrequent malformation of the pericardium in which there existed a large foramen, connecting the pericardial sac with the left pleural sac. Besides this condition there also occurred other anomalies of the coelomic derivatives, which if correctly interpreted, point back to an early disturbance in the development of the general coel...

BACKGROUND Prolonged or excessive blood loss is a common complication after cardiac surgery. Blood remnants and clots, remaining in the pericardial space in spite of chest tube drainage, induce high fibrinolytic activity that may contribute to bleeding complications. Continuous postoperative pericardial flushing (CPPF) with an irrigation solution may reduce blood loss by preventing the accumula...

Although the ascites syndrome of broilers is well documented, all the authors fail to describe exactly in which of the various coelomic cavities ascitic fluid is found. Determination of the precise location of this fluid is essential if the pathogenesis of the syndrome is to be understood and explained. Post-mortem examinations were done on 100 broilers that had ascites or had died of the ascit...