Pericardial effusions in patients with malignant diseases.
Six consecutive patients with malignant disease who developed a pericardial effusion were successfully treated with a single pericardiocentesis (two patients) or with indwelling pericardial cather drainage (four patients). There were no complications in either group. Short-term catheter drainage appears to be a safe and effective alternative to surgical establishment of a pericardial window.
D002404:Catheterization; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy