Pericardial effusion complicated by umbilical vein catheter in a preterm infant with respiratory distress syndrome: A case report

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the most common respiratory illness in premature infants. This syndrome is characterized by a deficiency in surfactant, necessary for proper lung function. Serious complications of RDS include pericardial effusion and pulmonary hypertension. Although pericardial effusion is a rare complication of RDS, it is potentially fatal if not treated. The most common cause of pericardial effusion (PCE) is the placement of a central venous catheter (CVC), a widely used procedure in neonatal intensive care unit to support premature infants. In this paper, we report a case of a 36 + 4 weeks preterm male infant presenting for RDS. During his hospital stay, at 24 hours of life, the patient started to develop bradycardia where he was intubated. After 48 hours of birth, a central venous catheter was inserted, and on echocardiography results showed pericardial effusion, and pulmonary hypertension.