RT Book, Section
A1 Reichman, Eric F.
SR Print(0)
ID 57703684
T1 Chapter 36. Pericardiocentesis
T2 Emergency Medicine Procedures, 2e
YR 2013
FD 2013
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-161352-1
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57703684
RD 2024/04/25
AB Pericardiocentesis  is  the  removal  of  fluid  from  the  pericardial  space  surrounding  the  heart.  The  fluid  is  usually  aspirated  with  a  needle  and  syringe.  Occasionally,  a  catheter  is  placed  within  the  pericardium  or  a  surgical  approach  is  used.  This  may  be  performed  for  diagnosis,  to  obtain  pericardial  fluid;  to  relieve  a  pericardial  effusion  and  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.