Pericardiocentesis: differential aspects of a common procedure.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the risk and effectiveness of pericardiocentesis in primary and repeat cardiac tamponade.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis.


METHODS
Intensive care unit in a medical university hospital.


METHODS
Sixty-three consecutively admitted patients with cardiac tamponade.


METHODS
In all patients pericardiocentesis was performed via the subxiphoid pathway after echocardiographic detection of the pericardial effusion.


RESULTS
There was no adverse event in patients undergoing primary pericardiocentesis, which was sufficient to resolve pericardial effusion in 51 of 63 patients (81%). However, repeat pericardiocentesis necessitated by the recurrence of symptomatic pericardial effusion yielded suboptimal results in 10 of 12 patients (83%).


CONCLUSIONS
Pericardiocentesis is the treatment of choice for primary symptomatic pericardial effusion. In recurrent pericardial effusion surgical approaches appear to be preferable.
Department of Internal Medicine, 1st Medizinische Klinik, Kiel, Germany.
A
A
Bastian
A
A
Meissner
M
M
Lins
E G
EG
Siegel
F
F
Möller
R
R
Simon
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D020519:Pericardiocentesis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography