Echocardiography-Guided or "Sided" Pericardiocentesis

Degirmencioglu A., Karakus G., Guvenc T. S., Pinhan O., Sipahi I., Akyol A.

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY-A JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ULTRASOUND AND ALLIED TECHNIQUES, vol.30, no.9, pp.997-1000, 2013 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 30 Issue: 9
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/echo.12214
  • Journal Name: ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY-A JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ULTRASOUND AND ALLIED TECHNIQUES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.997-1000
  • Keywords: echocardiography, pericardial effusion, TWO-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, CONTRAST ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, CARDIAC-TAMPONADE, NEEDLE, PROBE
  • Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis is the first choice method for relieving cardiac tamponade, but the exact role of the echocardiography at the moment of the puncture is still controversial. In this report, detailed echocardiographic evaluation was performed in 21 consecutive patients with cardiac tamponade just before the pericardiocentesis. Appropriate needle position was determined according to the probe position using imaginary x, y, and z axes. Pericardiocentesis was performed successfully using this technique without simultaneous echocardiography and no complications were observed. We concluded that bedside echocardiography with detailed evaluation of the puncture site and angle is enough for pericardiocentesis instead of real time guiding.