Cardiac Tamponade - a Cause of Sudden Death in a Premature Newborn.

Background: Cardiac tamponade is a potential complication in neonates with central venous catheters (CVC). Cardiac tamponade may be due to infection, a CVC related complication, or parental nutrition (PN) effusion.

Case Report: This is a preterm (30 weeks gestational age), very low birth weight male, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, requiring nasal continuous positive airway pressure. PN was provided via an umbilical venous catheter. An unexpected cardiac arrest occurred on the third day of life with an unsuccessful resuscitation. Autopsy revealed pericardial effusion composed of PN fluid with cardiac tamponade as the cause of death.

Conclusion: Cardiac tamponade due to total PN effusion in the premature neonate may be fatal. The mechanism of the epicardial/pericardial effusion is not known.