PERICARDIAL EFFUSION – PERCUTANEOUS DRAINAGE
What is pericardial effusion:
- Pericardial effusion is abnormal collection of fluid within pericardial cavity (sac around heart).
- It can be caused by multiple reasons like infection, cancer or trauma.
Why it necessary to drain:
- If large fluid is accumulated in pericardial cavity, it will hampers cardiac function and can leads to cardiac arrest if very large volume of fluid is accumulated.
What is pericardiocentesis:
- Pericardiocentesis, also called a pericardial tap or drainage, is a procedure done to remove fluid by needle or catheter from the pericardium, the sac around heart.
What are the benefit of pericardiocentesis:
- The fluid is tested for signs of infection, inflammation, and the presence of blood and cancer.
- This procedure can be lifesaving in patients with cardiac tamponade (very large amount of fluid within pericardium) which is a time sensitive, life-threatening condition that requires prompt diagnosis and management. The effect of pericardiocentesis is often immediate: the drainage of a few millilitres of the effusion significantly improves cardiac function.
Preparation for procedure:
- Few basic blood investigations like CBC, PT/INR, viral markers.
- Bring all the records including imaging record.
- Signing consent form.
What are risks:
- Very few, includes bleeding, arrhythmia, infection (<1 case in 1000).
