Purulent pericarditis in an adult burn patient treated with survival.

A 41-year-old white-skinned male admitted with 40 per cent total body surface area partial and full skin thickness burns developed septic pericarditis. He had a severe inhalation injury and subsequent pneumothorax. Multiple fibreoptic bronchoscopies were required. The septic pericarditis required pericardectomy which was carried out in two stages. The extensive burns required multiple operations. The patient eventually made a complete recovery.