Acute superior vena cava and right atrial tamponade in an infant after open heart surgery

Early postoperative localized cardiac tamponade occurred in a 4-month old infant after ventricular septal defect repair. The clinical findings were as for acute superior vena cava syndrome. The diagnosis was accurately made using echocardiography and measurement of the superior vena cava and right atrial pressure. Surgical revision was necessary to remove a large clot from the superior vena cava-right atrium junction.