Purulent pericarditis is rare and usually associated with pneumonia, bacteremia, immunosuppression, and thoracic surgery. A timely diagnostic pericardiocentesis with dedicated maneuvers to improve the effectiveness of drainage and pericardial fibrinolytic rinsing can improve prognosis and prevent a surgical pericardiectomy. Imaging offers useful clues for a more aggressive approach.
Keywords: cardiac imaging; pericardial rinsing; pericardiectomy; pericardiocentesis,; purulent pericarditis.