Complications of pericardiocentesis and drainage for pericardial effusion / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Pericardiocentesis and drainage are the common measures for the treatment of cardiac temponade and massive pericardial effusion. In this issue, the complications of pericardiocentesis and drainage were discussed. Methods 5 in-hospital cases of cardiac temponade or massive pericardial efiusion who had complications of pericardiocentesis and drainage were reported and analyzed. Results The complications were 2 cases with neural mediated syncope, 1 case with pleural efiusion, 1 case dead of acute right ventricular dilation, and 1 case with acute pulmonary edema and effusion leaking into the subcutaneous tissue. Conclusion The importance of hemodynamic change during pericardiocentesis and drainage could not be over-emphasized, and the patients whose hemodynamic status were unstable should be monitored by bedside hemodynamic monitoring or echocardiography. Also we should pay more attention to the drainage catheter per se, which may cause the complications.