Closed Pericardial Drainage for Relief of Pericardial Tamponade

Abstract

The method of continuous catheter drainage for pericardial tamponade as used in 108 patients is described. The efficacy of this procedure in relieving tamponade resulting from a variety of diseases is demonstrated. Blood clot in the pericardium probably constitutes a contraindication to catheter drainage.

Special Cerebral Perfusion in Surgery for the Ruptured Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

“…We have intermittently performed a percutaneous drainage using a 16 gauge narrow catheter under the guide of echocardiography until the Operation was begun. This procedure has already been reported [4], and it allows some relief of the tamponade. Moreover, it may prevent excessive bleeding caused by the improvement of systemic blood pressure.…”

Complications of Percutaneous Pericardiocentesis under Fluoroscopic Guidance

“…Four of the 9 deaths occurred in patients with pericardial effusion due to malignancy (5,8,10) and in 2 of these cases death was caused by intrapericardial haemorrhage after cardiac perforation (5,10). Death (10,17,19) or pulmonary oedema (12,17,18) following pericardiocentesis in patients with congestive heart failure has been reported by several au thors.…”

“…Cardiac perforation is probably more common than has been mentioned in the literature, since the perfora tion, especially in the case of blind puncture, may be difficult to ascertain. In none of the reports on cardiac perforations with a fatal outcome (5,7,10) is the extent of damage caused to the myocardium mentioned, nor is it stated whether any of the patients had coagulation defects. Fourteen of our 23 cases of cardiac perforation occurred in surgical patients, and all in postoperative patients on anticoagulant therapy.…”

Cardiac tamponade

“…An uncorrected bleeding diathesis is the only contraindication to pericardiocentesis in the non‐emergent setting. Pericardiocentesis is unlikely to be successful in loculated effusions, small effusions or where blood clots exist 80,114 .…”