title: How to aspirate the pericardium.
abstract: Of the practical procedures in a general physician's repertoire, pericardiocentesis is one of the less commonly performed and perhaps among the most worrying. The advent of echocardiography has made the procedure safer but it must be appreciated that the risk of developing a life-threatening complication is probably still higher than during cardiac catheterization or coronary angiography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Middlesex Hospital, London.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Treasure
mesh_terms: D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000628:therapy; D004452:Echocardiography; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000628:therapy*; D013396:Suction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*