ISSN:
1432-1238
Keywords:
Key words Pericardiocentesis
;
Cardiac tamponade
;
Recurrent pericardial effusion
;
Repeat pericardiocentesis
;
Risk of pericardiocentesis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Objective: To evaluate the risk and effectiveness of pericardiocentesis in primary and repeat cardiac tamponade Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: Intensive care unit in a medical university hospital. Patients: Sixty-three consecutively admitted patients with cardiac tamponade. Interventions: In all patients pericardiocentesis was performed via the subxiphoid pathway after echocardiographic detection of the pericardial effusion. Measurements and 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 %). Conclusion: Pericardiocentesis is the treatment of choice for primary symptomatic pericardial effusion. In recurrent pericardial effusion surgical approaches appear to be preferable.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s001340051206
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