Lateral-Apical Approach to Pericardiocentesis for Treatment of Cardiac Tamponade Immediately Post-orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Cardiac tamponade is a rare complication following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The incidence and treatment specific to the immediate postoperative OLT patient have never been reported. Here, we describe a case of OLT complicated by coagulopathy and difficult intraoperative pulmonary artery catheter placement with subsequent postoperative hemopericardium resulting in tamponade. An emergent, ultrasound-guided, lateral-apical pericardiocentesis was successfully performed, suggesting a possible procedural technique for pericardiocentesis in the immediate postoperative period for liver transplant patients.