Left ventricular tamponade: echocardiographic and hemodynamic manifestations.

A patient with progressive systemic sclerosis was evaluated for dyspnea. Echocardiography revealed enlarged right heart chambers, a moderate pericardial effusion, and diastolic collapse of the left ventricle. Hemodynamic studies before and after removal of pericardial fluid were consistent with compromise of left, but not right, heart filling by the pericardial fluid.