DELAYED POSTTRAUMATIC TAMPONADE

Delayed cardiac tamponade is a rare phenomenon with two primary causes : delayed hemorrhage after an acute injury or delayed pericarditis wit h effusion. We present a case of cardiac tamponade 4 weeks after injur y, with findings compatible with delayed hemorrhage and pericarditis. Our case emphasizes the need for follow-up of patients with penetratin g chest trauma for several months after injury; echocardiography shoul d be used if symptoms of tamponade appear.