A case report of ruptured amoebic liver abscess causing cardiac tamponade and requiring pericardial window

Background Amoebiasis is a prevalent infection in the tropics. Amoebic liver abscess is the most common extraintestinal manifestation. Cardiac tamponade is an uncommon complication of amoebic liver abscess that may need urgent pericardiocentesis. Case summary A 25-year-old man presented with abdominal pain and fever for 1 month. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a 4.7 x 4.7 cm abscess in the left lobe of the liver. Percutaneous pigtail drainage was performed to evacuate the abscess. After 2 days, the patient developed signs of cardiac tamponade and bilateral pleural effusion, requiring urgent pericardiocentesis and chest drain insertion. Persistent posterior collection of thick abscess in pericardium needed pericardial window for complete drainage. The patient recovered completely after pericardial window. There was no evidence of chronic constrictive pericarditis after 1 year of follow-up. Discussion A rare complication of the amoebic liver abscess was observed in this young adult who developed cardiac tamponade, requiring an urgent pericardiocentesis, and later requiring pericardial window. Management includes amoebicidal and luminicidal drugs for complete eradication of Entamoeba histolytica.