[Emergent surgical treatment for purulent pericarditis associated with cardiac tamponade; report of a case].

We describe a case of purulent pericarditis presented with cardiac tamponade. A 65-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with shock by cardiac tamponade and high grade fever. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large amount of pericardial effusion. Surgical drainage via median sternotomy was carried out in an emergent manner. Because culture of pericardial effusion showed positive for methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus and thick white purulence covering over all pericardium, purulent pericarditis was diagnosed. Postoperative course was uneventful and discharged in a good condition. Special care should be taken of purulent pericaditis in differential diagnosis of cardiac tamponade.