Results of subxiphoid pericardiostomy in pericardial effusion

37 patients with pericardial effusions were managed by early subxiphoid pericardiostomy under local anaesthesia in most cases (31/37). The aetiology was pyogenic infection in 21, tuberculosis in 7, trauma in 3, cardiomyopathy in one. It was unclear in five patients. The effusion recurred in two patients (one with pyogenic, the other with traumatic pericarditis). An infant with pyogenic pericarditis developed pericardial constriction. The mortality, mainly due to associated infections or diseases, was related to aetiology: 0% for tuberculosis and trauma, 19% (4/21) for pyogenic infections, 80% (4/5) for unclear causes. Overall results were good in 28 patients. Subxiphoid pericardiostomy is a simple and safe procedure which allows a quick differential diagnosis and drainage of pericardial effusions.