Isolated right atrial tamponade by serous fluid simulating tricuspid stenosis.

Echocardiography is a key diagnostic tool in the recognition of pericardial tamponade. A 56-year-old man in whom severe dyspnea developed 22 days after cardiac surgery is described. Echocardiography suggested tricuspid valve disease but showed no pericardial abnormalities. Catheterization revealed functional stenosis of a normal tricuspid valve caused by loculated serous pericardial fluid.