[Percutaneous tubing and drainage for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pericardial effusion].
OBJECTIVE
To insert a tube into pericardial cavity as an emergent measure of diagnosis and treatment in patients with malignant pericardial effusion.


METHODS
Pericardial puncture was followed by insertion of drainage tube (diameter = 1.8 mm) through the puncture needle. The effusion collected was examined for cancer cells. After drainage, chemotherapeutic agents were administered. Four hours later, drainage was continued for 2 days (< or = 30 ml pericardial fluid drained in 24 hr) and the tube was removed.


RESULTS
In 34 cases with malignant pericardial effusion, tube draining was successful to relieve cardiac temponade within 15-60 minutes. Clots were present in 91.2% of the cases and cancer diagnosis was confirmed in all of them. The cytologic diagnosis of effusion was positive in 61.8%, and the cyto-pathologic typing of clots was 81.0%. The difference was statistically significant. When the results of the 2 examinations were put together, the positive rate increased to 94.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
Tube drainage of malignant pericardial effusion is useful in diagnosis and emergency treatment.
Li
Y
Y
Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin 300051, China.
Zhou
J
J
Zhang
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000628:therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy