title: Complications of percutaneous pericardiocentesis under fluoroscopic guidance.
abstract: Complications in 352 cases of fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous pericardiocentesis accomplished through an indwelling catheter were reviewed following surgery and non-surgery. Thirteen major complications were found, namely 3 cardiac perforations, 2 cardiac arrhythmias, 4 cases of arterial bleeding, 2 cases of pneumothorax in children, one infection, and one major vagal reaction. No significant difference in complications was found between pericardiocenteses for pericardial effusions after cardiac surgery (n = 208) and those for effusions of non-surgical (n = 144) origin. Fluoroscopy-guided pericardiocentesis by the subxiphoid approach with placement of an indwelling catheter is a safe method for achieving pericardial drainage in both surgical and non-surgical effusions. Accidental cardiac perforation with a fine needle is a minor complication as long as the needle is directed towards the anterior diaphragmatic border of the right ventricle and drainage is achieved with a reliable indwelling catheter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Akademiska Sjukhuset, Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Duvernoy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borowiec
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Helmius
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Erikson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000628:therapy*