EBUS-TBNA-induced Purulent Pericarditis: A Rare Complication of a Common Procedure

  • Joana Alfaiate Serviço Medicina Interna - Centro Hospitalar do Médio Tejo, EPE, Abrantes, Portugal
  • Andreia Brito Serviço Medicina Interna - Centro Hospitalar do Médio Tejo, EPE, Abrantes, Portugal
  • Ana Matos Serviço Medicina Interna - Centro Hospitalar do Médio Tejo, EPE, Abrantes, Portugal
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12890/2022_003738

Keywords

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration, infectious complications, pericarditis

Abstract

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a diagnostic tool used to investigate mediastinal lesions. It has a good safety profile, but there are rare accounts of potentially deadly complications. The present article describes one such complication: pericardial empyema.
A 70-year-old man underwent EBUS-TBNA for the differential diagnosis of a pulmonary mass with multiple mediastinal adenopathies. Two weeks after the procedure he developed chest pain, shortness of breath and fever, with rapid progression to hypotension, tachycardia and low peripheral saturation. He was diagnosed with purulent pericarditis with cardiac tamponade. Pericardial drainage and antibiotic therapy were employed with successful recovery from obstructive disease and septic shock.

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    • Published: 2023-03-18

    Issue: 2023: Vol 10 No 3 (view)

    Section: Articles

    How to cite:
    1.
    Alfaiate J, Brito A, Matos A. EBUS-TBNA-induced Purulent Pericarditis: A Rare Complication of a Common Procedure . EJCRIM 2023;10 doi:10.12890/2022_003738.