Background
For the management of pericardial effusion, pericardiocentesis plays an essential
role. Despite advanced imaging methods, a substantial risk of complication persists.
Objectives
We aimed to predict the risk factors of pericardiocentesis complicated by cardiac
injury and to assess the surgical outcome in complicated cases after echo-guided
drainage.
Patients and methods
This observational study enrolled 134 patients with pericardial effusion who were
scheduled for pericardiocentesis for drainage. The patients were divided into two
groups: group I comprised 21 patients who required surgical intervention, and
group II included 113 patients with successful uncomplicated pericardiocentesis.
Results
The mean age was 47.49 ± 16.38 years, and 52.2% were males. There
were no significant differences between both groups regarding the patients’
characteristics. Hemodynamic instability was higher in the complicated (71.4%)
than the noncomplicated (20.4%) group. Recurrent pericardiocentesis trials (≥2)
were statistically higher in group I than group II (P