Cardiac Tamponade Associated with the Administration of Dicumarol

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Abstract
The case history is presented of a man 22 years of age who developed cardiac tamponade in association with anticoagulant therapy and nonpenetrating trauma of the heart. Included is a commentary on the delayed appearance of signs indicative of pericardial and/or myocardial damage following severe trauma and the value of serial electrocardiographic observations in the diagnosis thereof. The importance of interpretation of the results of prothrombin testing is discussed and comparative data are presented which indicate the desirability for standardization of methods employed in reporting prothrombin values when used to control anticoagulant therapy with dicumarol.