ABSTRACT

Pericardial effusion can be caused by multiple diseases, and the treatment and prognosis mainly depend on the under¬lying disease. Although the most important point is to treat the prima¬ry diseases, pericardiocentesis may be performed for diagnosis and treatment. Cardiac laceration following pericardiocentesis is usually asymptomatic and self-sealing, particularly if the left ventricle have been damaged. Right ventricular perforations have a somewhat higher likelihood of bleeding, but right atrial lacerations carry the highest risk. We reported a case of iatrogenic massive pericardial hematoma after diagnostic pericardiocentesis.