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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Hemopericardium

Introduction

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)

Template:Heart diseases Template:Injuries, other than fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains Template:Hemodynamics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]