A case report: the putride pericard tamponade

We present the case of a 67 year old woman who was resuscitated due to card iac tamponade. Examination of the pus fluid showed a bacterial infection wi th streptococcus milleri. Four days before resuscitation the patient experi enced weakness, dyspnoe, increased temperature (39 degrees C), swelling of the neck, and pain on swallowing. Using computed tomography, examination re vealed an infection extending from the right tonsil to the mediastinum and into the pericardium. After surgery to remove the retropharyngeal abscess, the patient healed well. Therefore, on presentation of a cardiac tamponade, possible hematogenous or lymphogenous causes or per continuitatem infectio ns should always be considered. In this case the germs in the fluid and the typical patient history indicated an oropharyngeal reason.