ABSTRACT
Patients with a significant pericardial effusion may undergo drainage (pericardiocentesis) to prevent cardiac tamponade. This procedure may be complicated by cardiac perforation, with a resultant hemopericardium. A hemopericardium is visible through the unopened pericardium. The pericardiocentesis catheter can be seen entering the pericardium (bottom left) and within the pericardial sac (top right).
