AUTHOR=Idu Muhammad , Lim Chiw Yeh , Chua Kim Chai 

TITLE=Case Report: Late presentation of post-coronary artery bypass surgery pericardial effusion heralding mediastinitis with tracheocutaneous fistula

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1483395

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2025.1483395

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=Post-coronary artery bypass surgery pericardial effusions are typically self-limiting but may rarely be significant, causing pericardial tamponade. We describe a case of late post-operative pericardial effusion that required pericardiocentesis and subsequent readmission for mediastinitis with the added complication of a tracheocutaneous fistula. Our case report is the first reported instance of pericardial tamponade heralding the onset of mediastinitis. It also describes the rare complication of tracheocutaneous fistula associated with mediastinitis.