title: [Evaluation of echo-guided pericardiocentesis in cardiac tamponade].
abstract: Between April 1982 and December 1995, 78 consecutive patients with an average age of 57 +/- 13 years underwent echo-guided pericardiocentesis in the intensive care unit for poorly tolerated pericardial effusions. The patients were admitted to the cardiology departments of Ambroise-Paré Hospital at Boulogne (n = 44). Gilles-de-Corbeil Hospital at Corbeil-Essonnes (n = 31) and Val-de-Grâce Hospital in Paris (n = 3). The underlying aetiologies were malignant disease (n = 31), idiopathic (n = 13), post-surgery (n = 7), infection (n = 7), autoimmune (n = 6), post-radiotherapy (n = 6), post-myocardial infarction (n = 3), chronic renal failure (n = 3) and coagulation defects (n = 2). Pericardial puncture was undertaken by the subxiphoid (n = 77) or left parasternal (n = 1) approaches under guidance of echocardiography. Intra-pericardial contrast was used to verify the position of the catheter. The average volume of liquid drained was 580 +/- 390 mL. After pericardiocentesis, continuous drainage was continued in 17 patients for an average duration of 63 +/- 29 hours. The total average volume was 750 +/- 330 mL. The major complications were a) three deaths during the puncture, not caused by the procedure after post-mortem study, b) ten right ventricular punctures with no consequences in 9 cases, c) two cases of shock, one of which was due to a pre-existing septicaemia of pulmonary origin, d) two non-sustained ventricular arrhythmias. The minor incidents were six vasovagal syndromes during the procedure and four paroxysmal supraventricular arrhythmias. Emergency surgical drainage was required (n = 3) for a failed procedure and late surgical drainage (n = 12) for persistence or recurrence of the effusion. No surgical drainage was required in the 17 patients placed under continuous aspiration. Echo-guided pericardiocentesis is a simple procedure and provides rapid haemodynamic relief in subjects generally in serious condition. Continuous aspiration may help avoid the need for surgical drainage for persistence or recurrence of the effusion.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie, hôpital Ambroise Paré, Boulogne.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vayre
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lardoux
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chikli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezzano
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bourdarias
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koukoui
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ollivier
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dubourg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011677:Punctures; D013396:Suction