title: Novel, Long-axis In-plane Ultrasound-Guided Pericardiocentesis for Postoperative Pericardial Effusion Drainage.
abstract: Pericardial effusion can be a life-threatening complication in children after cardiac surgery. Percutaneous pericardiocentesis is associated with rare, but serious complications. This retrospective study describes our experience with a novel, long-axis in-plane real-time ultrasound (US)-guided technique for postoperative pericardial effusion drainage in small children. Ten out of sixteen procedures were performed within 14 days of cardiac surgery at a median postoperative day 12 (IQR 2, 99). Median age was 2.7 months (IQR 0.4124) and weight 4.5 kg (IQR 2.5, 41.6). All but one procedure required a single attempt. Fourteen out of sixteen procedures had subxiphoid approach, and two were apical. Median initial drainage was 9 mL/kg (IQR 4.5, 27). Fifty percent of effusions were serous, 25 % chylous, and the remainder bloody. There were no reported complications. This study demonstrates a novel, long-axis pericardiocentesis technique that allows for an easy and safe needle entry into the pericardial space for small children in the early postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Law
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Medicine, UAB Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1700 6th Avenue South, Suite 9100, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borasino
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Medicine, UAB Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1700 6th Avenue South, Suite 9100, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
authors.forename: Yuvraj
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Medicine, UAB Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1700 6th Avenue South, Suite 9100, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA. jalten@peds.uab.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alten
mesh_terms: D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D010490:Pericardial Effusion; D020519:Pericardiocentesis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Congenital heart disease; Neonate; Pericardiocentesis; Postoperative; Ultrasound