Iatrogenic cardiac tamponade during pregnancy.

A 26-year-old primigravida who presented to us with threatened preterm labour which was suppressed successfully with sulindac, was found to have a pericardial effusion. Pericardiocentesis was performed because of evidence of right ventricular compression. However, it was complicated by inadvertent puncture of the left ventricle causing cardiac tamponade, and hypovolaemic shock shortly afterwards. An emergency pericardiotomy was performed to rescue the patient.