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PURULENT PERICARDITIS COMPLICATING SEPTICAEMIA: REPORT OF TWO CASES
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Intrapericardial (Pericardial) abscess is quite rare as a complication of sepsis and as
a cardiac complication of typhoid septicaemia. It is rapidly fatal if untreated. We report
two cases of a schoolboy eight years old with septicaemia from pyomyositis of the right
thigh and another of nine and a half years with typhoid perforation and typhoid
septicaemia that developed pericardial abscesses. In well-developed centres, computerised
tomography, ultrasonography and other radiological investigations are employed for
both diagnosis and therapy. We emphasise that these can be accomplished by good
clinical examination, radiography of chest and the use of 18-G intra-venous cannula
for percutaneous pericardiocentesis without aggressive surgical intervention.
Intrapericardial (Pericardial) abscess is quite rare as a complication of sepsis and as
a cardiac complication of typhoid septicaemia. It is rapidly fatal if untreated. We report
two cases of a schoolboy eight years old with septicaemia from pyomyositis of the right
thigh and another of nine and a half years with typhoid perforation and typhoid
septicaemia that developed pericardial abscesses. In well-developed centres, computerised
tomography, ultrasonography and other radiological investigations are employed for
both diagnosis and therapy. We emphasise that these can be accomplished by good
clinical examination, radiography of chest and the use of 18-G intra-venous cannula
for percutaneous pericardiocentesis without aggressive surgical intervention.
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