Pyopericardium − A fatal presentation: A case report

Pyopericardium is an uncommon presentation of tuberculosis (TB) and has been reported in 6.98% of the cases of pyopericardium. Pyopericardium has been documented in <3% of the cases of large TB pericardial effusions, even in the high-prevalence areas of TB and human immunodeficiency virus infection. Pulmonary TB affects the pericardium in 1–2% of the cases, and pericardial TB is responsible for 7% of the cases of cardiac tamponade. Pericardial TB is usually an insidious illness and may present as acute pericarditis, chronic pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, or pericardial constriction; however, purulent pericarditis is rare. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previous case reports from India on acute pyopericardium with tamponade. Purulent pericarditis or pyopericardium is a rare entity and is associated with very high mortality. A 50-year-old woman was brought to the Emergency Department with respiratory distress and shock. Screening echocardiography suggested pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade. The pericardial aspirate was frankly purulent, but she sustained a cardiac arrest, and resuscitative attempts were futile. The case is highlighted because of its rarity and fatal outcome, especially with late diagnosis and management. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: medical knowledge and patient care.