Ultrasound-guided pigtail catheter drainage of malignant pericardial effusions

Abstract

Anterior pericardiocentesis was performed under ultrasound guidance using indwelling pigtail catheters in nine patients with malignant pericardial effusions and cardiac tamponade. Symptoms were alleviated in all cases and there were no deaths attributable to the procedure. Catheters remained in place for a median of 24 h (range 8-168 h). Complications were minor: asymptomatic left-sided or bilateral pleural effusions (n = 3), atrial fibrillation (n = 2), transient pericardial pain (n = 1) and erratic drainage (n = 1). Recurrence of the pericardial effusion was limited to a single case and occurred after 5 months of effective palliation. The procedure was successfully repeated with no further recurrence. One patient who went on to surgical fenestration 11 days after pericardiocentesis died 24 h post-operatively. The remaining patients died of the underlying malignant disease without further cardiac complication. Survival following the procedure ranged from 3 to 8 months. Ultrasound-guided pigtail catheter drainage is a minimally invasive, safe and effective method for the palliation of cardiac tamponade in patients with malignant pericardial disease.