Pericardial tamponade secondary to central venous catheterization and hyperalimentation in a very low birthweight infant.

A very low birthweight infant developed pericardial tamponade secondary to leakage of fat emulsion through a catheter lodged in the right atrial appendage. At autopsy examination a thrombus was lodged in the appendage, which presumably resulted in immobilization of the catheter and leakage of the fluid through an attenuated and necrotic myocardial wall.