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Pericardiocentesis guided by 2‐D echocardiography: the method of choice for treatment of pericardial effusion
Author(s) -
Lindenberger M.,
Kjellberg M.,
Karlsson E.,
Wranne B.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2003.01103.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pericardiocentesis , pericardial effusion , effusion , radiology , cardiology , surgery
. Lindenberger M, Kjellberg M, Karlsson E, Wranne B (Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden). Pericardiocentesis guided by 2‐D echocardiography: the method of choice for treatment of pericardial effusion. J Intern Med 2003; 253 : 411–417. Background. Percutaneous pericardiocentesis guided by 2‐D echocardiography has been used at Linköping Heart Centre since 1983. Aim. To evaluate our experience of this method including a follow‐up and also to determine the aetiology of pericardial effusion. Methods. A retrospective study including 120 of 252 consecutive patients punctured. Results. The two most common aetiologies were cardiac surgery (77% valve surgery), followed by malignant disease. The postsurgical effusions became clinically important a median of 12 days after surgery (range 0–56 days). The median survival in the group with malignant disease was 89 days (30‐day survival 87%, 1‐year survival 10%). Indwelling catheter was used in 93% of the patients. There was no mortality but one patient needed a second pericardiocentesis after an accidental puncture of the right ventricle. Nine patients had rhythm aberrations. Recurring effusion that needed puncture was seen in 8%. Conclusion. Pericardiocentesis guided by 2‐D echocardiography is a safe and efficient method to treat pericardial effusion and also valuable as palliative treatment for patients with malignant aetiology of the effusion.