Pericardial Fluid Drainage in the Thoracic Cavity During Pericardiocentesis

Authors

  • Panagiotis Margos First Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Nikea, Pireaus, Greece
  • Michalis Mariolis First Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Nikea, Pireaus, Greece
  • Athanasios Kranidis First Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Nikea, Pireaus, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2015/hc.v9i1%20Sup.639

Keywords:

pericardiocentesis, cardiac tamponade, drainage, pleural cavity

Abstract

An 86-year-old male with dizziness and dyspnea due to cardiac tamponade, underwent pericardiocentesis under ultrasound guidance. The procedure was done through the 5th intercostal space at the left sternal border. A 6-F sheath was placed in the pericardial sac. Although only a minimal quantity of pericardial fluid could be removed through the sheath, complete evacuation of the pericardial fluid could be detected with echocardiography, a few minutes after the puncture of the sac. Clinical improvement with hemodynamic stability were present after the procedure. We discuss the mechanism of this strange phenomenon.

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Published

2014-05-19

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 Sup (2014): ATHENS CARDIOLOGY UPDATE 2014

Section

ATHENS CARDIOLOGY UPDATE 2014

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