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Avoiding the Left Internal Mammary Artery During Anterior Pericardiocentesis
Author(s) -
Kronzon Itzhak,
Glassman Lawrence R.,
Tunick Paul A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1046/j.1540-8175.2003.03090.x
Subject(s) - pericardiocentesis , medicine , tamponade , mammary artery , radiology , cardiac tamponade , artery , surgery , cardiology
In patients with pericardial effusions who require anterior pericardiocentesis, it is important to avoid trauma to the left internal mammary artery. Such trauma could result in severe bleeding or tamponade. This article describes how the left internal mammary artery may be identified by duplex ultrasound, and therefore avoided. It is also important to ensure that the needle stick is just lateral to the artery, to avoid hitting the left lung. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 20, August 2003)