[Videosurgical pleuro-pericardial windows in oncology]

Fifteen consecutive patients with recurrent pericardial effusion associated with confirmed neoplastic disease (N = 11) or with a triad of symptoms: weight loss, anorexia, tiredness (N = 4), underwent videosurgery through a pleuro-pericardial window. The mean age was 58 years (37-77 years). The average procedure and assisted ventilation times were 56.5 min (40-110 min) and 86 min (70-140 min) respectively. Three patients experienced cardiac arrhythmias which regressed. The patients were discharged home on the 5th day (3-11 days). In contrast to needle biopsy which only provided a diagnosis in 3 cases, the histopathological findings were diagnostic in all cases: 12 malignant and 3 benign pericardial effusions with correction of the presumed clinical diagnosis in the latter 3 cases. The average follow-up was 10 months (7 days-3.5 years). There was no operative mortality. Global survival at 1 year was 66%, death being generally caused by a complication of the malignant disease. There were no deaths in the 3 patients with benign pericardial effusions, underlying the necessity of an accurate etiologic diagnosis before assuming malignant pericardial invasion. There were no recurrences of the pericardial effusion and the ventilatory status of these patients was adapted for everyday activities. In patients with malignant disease, the construction of a pleuro-pericardial window by videosurgery is a satisfactory approach. It provides etiologic diagnosis and is well tolerated by patients in poor general condition with no operative deaths, low morbidity and definite improvement in the patients' comfort.