RT Book, Section A1 Juarez, Marianne A1 Nemer, Jacqueline A2 Reichman, Eric F. SR Print(0) ID 1159796956 T1 Pericardiocentesis T2 Reichman's Emergency Medicine Procedures, 3e YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259861925 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1159796956 RD 2024/11/06 AB Pericardiocentesis is the removal of fluid from the pericardial space. This is usually performed using a needle and syringe. A pericardial catheter can be placed for ongoing removal of fluid from within the pericardium. Pericardiocentesis may be performed to obtain pericardial fluid for analysis, to relieve the pressure of a pericardial effusion, to improve cardiac output, or as a lifesaving measure to relieve a cardiac tamponade. The technique is relatively simple to perform yet has a significant rate of complications.1