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Hemopericardium

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]


Overview

Overview

Hemopericardium refers to blood in the pericardial sac of the heart. It is a cause of pericardial effusion, and can also cause cardiac tamponade.[1]

The condition can be caused by trauma,[2] but it has also been observed in patients on anticoagulant therapy.[3][4]

Pathological Findings

Pathological Findings

Images courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology

Hemopericardium: Gross, an excellent in situ view


Hemopericardium: Gross, in situ, unopened pericardium (a very good example)


Hemopericardium: Gross, natural color, heart in situ with opened pericardium and filled with red blood clot (quite good example) dissecting aneurysm


Hemopericardium due to Needle Puncture: Gross, natural color, external view of heart covered by blood


Needle Puncture Mark in Epicardium: Gross, natural color, close-up of needle puncture marks tap resulted in hemopericardium


Hemopericardium: Hemopericardium caused by pericardiocentesis: Gross, natural color, close-up view of apex of the heart. Needle apparently entered the distal posterior descending artery.


Hemopericardium: Hemopericardium caused by pericardiocentesis: Gross, natural color, view of apex of the heart. Needle apparently entered the distal posterior descending artery


Hemopericardium: Hemopericardium due to pericardiocentesis: Gross, fixed tissue, close-up view of slice through distal posterior descending artery showing periarterial hemorrhage


Hemopericardium: Liver: Gross, natural color, typical shock liver case of death due to hemopericardium secondary to pericardiocentesis


Hemopericardium in newborn: Gross, natural color, opened body with large collection blood in pericardial sac. Cause uncertain. A 26 week premature with hyaline membrane disease and DIC


Hemopericardium: Myocardial Infarction and Ventricular Rupture


Hemopericardium: Infarct rupture after 7 days of chest pain onset.


Hemopericardium in dissecting aneurysm: Gross, heart with root of aorta to show hemorrhage into pericardium (very good example)


References

References

  1. ↑ “Forensic Pathology”.
  2. ↑ Krejci CS, Blackmore CC, Nathens A (2000). “Hemopericardium: an emergent finding in a case of blunt cardiac injury”. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 175 (1): 250. PMID 10882282. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ↑ Katis PG (2005). “Atraumatic hemopericardium in a patient receiving warfarin therapy for a pulmonary embolus”. CJEM. 7 (3): 168–70. PMID 17355673. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ Hong YC, Chen YG, Hsiao CT, Kuan JT, Chiu TF, Chen JC (2007). “Cardiac tamponade secondary to haemopericardium in a patient on warfarin”. Emerg Med J. 24 (9): 679–80. doi:10.1136/emj.2007.049643. PMID 17711963. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

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