[Subxiphoid drainage of pericardial effusions]

Subxiphoid drainage of chronic or persistent effusion was done on five patients (three women and two men) in a twelve-month period. The average age was 30 years. All patients had symptoms and two had a diagnosis of cardiac tamponade. Every patient had an echocardiogram. Subxiphoid drainage was done by creating a pericardial window. Three patients were done with local and two under general anesthesia. There was no morbidity or mortality, associated with the procedure. Two of the effusions were idiopathic and one each was purulent, uremic or metastatic. The patients were followed for an average of 6.5 months and all remained asymptomatic and without evidence of recurrent pericardial effusion. This procedure is effective in the treatment of persistent pericardial effusions. It is an easy and fast operation with low morbidity and mortality, which allows it to be used in patients who are high surgical risks.