Laparoscopic creation of pericardial window

Malignant pericardial effusions are frequently symptomatic and usually recur after aspiration. Surgical options include pericardiectomy and transthoracic or subxiphoid pericardial window formation and, more recently, thoracoscopic pericardial window formation. The authors report their first four cases of laparoscopic creation of pericardial windows. The treatment has been effective and minimally traumatic.