INTRAOPERATIVE CARDIAC-TAMPONADE COMPLICATING ESOPHAGOGASTRECTOMY

Background. Thoracoabdominal esophagogastrectomy is associated with a number of potential life-threatening complications. Patients. We descr ibe a patient with intraoperative hypotension in which a number of the rapeutic maneuvers eventually led to the diagnosis of cardiac tamponad e. Results. Once the diagnosis of tamponade was made, it was successfu lly treated by the release of intrapericardial blood. Conclusions. Alt hough rare, tamponade should be considered as a cause of hemodynamic i nstability whenever intraoperative manipulation of the heart has occur red.