An Overlap Presentation of Pericardial Decompression Syndrome and Stress Cardiomyopathy Following Therapeutic Pericardiocentesis

Pericardial decompression syndrome, defined as paradoxical hypotension and pulmonary edema after pericardiocentesis, is a rare complication of pericardiocentesis. Stress cardiomyopathy, caused by excess catecholamine response resulting in left ventricular dysfunction and elevated cardiac enzymes, can overlap with pericardial decompression syndrome, and both might belong to the same spectrum of disease. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)