title: Flexible fiberoptic pericardioscopy for the diagnosis of pericardial disease.
abstract: Pericardiocentesis provides an etiologic diagnosis for pericardial effusions approximately 25% of the time. In seven patients with evidence of a large pericardial effusion of unknown origin without cardiac tamponade, a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope was inserted through a subxiphoid incision after the effusion was drained. Pericardioscopy allowed visualization of all pericardial surfaces and made it possible to perform selective biopsy not limited to a subxiphoid window. It is a safe procedure that can permit distinction among benign, malignant and tuberculous origins of pericardial effusion.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D019723:Endoscopes; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology*