Perforation of Jejunum as a Rare Complication of Pericardiocentesis: A Case Report

The safety of pericardiocentesis as a therapy for cardiac tamponade has improved since the advent of echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis. The most serious complications include injury of the cardiac chambers, laceration of the coronary arteries or intercostal vessels, puncture of the abdominal viscera or peritoneal cavity, pneumothorax, pneumopericardium, ventricular arrhythmias, pericardial decompression syndrome, myocardial and coronary puncture. Iatrogenic intestinal injury during an attempt for pericardiocentesis is very rare; in addition, the diagnosis of this complication may be very challenging. We present a rare case of perforation of the jejunum caused by pericardiocentesis, which was promptly diagnosed and managed emergently.