Pericardial effusion from central venous catheter in a newborn: Survival after early echocardiographic diagnosis

A case of late pericardial effusion by central venous catheter in an infant in parenteral nutrition is reported. The infant (69 days old, 17 days from catheter placement) suddenly presented severe polipnea and tachicardia. Immediate echocardiography confirmed the presence of pericardial effusion and therapeutic pericardiocentesis was immediately performed. Following pericardiocentesis the infant s condition quickly improved and afterwards infusion of parenteral nutrition was also resumed without any further problems. Although a rare occurrence, we think pericardial effusion should be always suspected in any patient with a central venous catheter whose conditions deteriorate suddenly and in our opinion, these symptoms require an immediate echocardiography.