Cardiac Tamponade after Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke - A Case with an Excellent Outcome

Authors

• Ana Vera-Cruz Medicine Department, Internal Medicine Service, District Hospital of Santarém, Santarém, Portugal
• Marta Cerol Medicine Department, Internal Medicine Service, District Hospital of Santarém, Santarém, Portugal
• Maria Margarida Pereira Medicine Department, Internal Medicine Service, District Hospital of Santarém, Santarém, Portugal
• Sónia Canadas Medicine Department, Internal Medicine Service, Hospital Sousa Martins, Guarda, Portuga
• Juliana Mortágua Emergency Department, Intermediate Care Unit, District Hospital of Santarém, Santarém, Portugal
• Ion Gherbovetchi Emergency Department, Intermediate Care Unit, District Hospital of Santarém, Santarém, Portugal
• José Pedro Andrade Emergency Department, Intermediate Care Unit, District Hospital of Santarém, Santarém, Portugal

anaveracruz.mail@gmail.com

Keywords

Abstract

Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is the established treatment for acute ischemic stroke and has been highly effective in reducing the neurological deficit. Serious adverse events are not uncommon, with hemorrhage being the major complication. We describe the case of a patient with acute ischemic stroke that also presented with vague cardiac symptoms and was treated with rtPA, which was complicated by a hemopericardium causing cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was promptly performed, which resulted in rapid resolution of the cardiogenic shock. The patient recovered consciousness within a few minutes. A search of the MEDLINE database shows that this is the first report of cardiac tamponade after rtPA thrombolysis occurring in a patient with no history of recent myocardial infarction or aortic dissection.