Cardiac tamponade and septic pericarditis caused by biliary stent migration

In patients with biliary or pancreatic disease, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a common and important therapeutic and diagnostic procedure. Stent migration is a possible complication occurring in approximately 5-10% of cases. This case presents a 47-year-old male with chest pain and found to have biliary stent migration to the pericardial sac causing septic pericarditis and cardiac tamponade. Highlighting this devastating complication, this case demonstrates an opportunity for emergency physicians (EP) to diagnose and monitor patients for post-operative and post-procedural complications. In the emergency department, EPs are well positioned to use ultrasound as a diagnostic and monitoring tool for cardiac tamponade.