Endobronchial Ultrasound: A New Technique of Pericardiocentesis in Posterior Loculated Pericardial Effusion.

Abstract

Diagnostic and therapeutic pericardiocentesis is traditionally carried out via the transthoracic route under ultrasound or echocardiographic guidance. Posteriorly located loculated pericardial effusion cannot be safely drained using the standard subxiphoid or apical, intercostal approach. In the presence of clinically significant loculated effusion or effusion requiring diagnostic pericardiocentesis where an echocardiographic approach is not feasible, patients are usually referred for surgery. We here present a novel minimally invasive endobronchial ultrasound-guided approach for the aspiration of posteriorly loculated pericardial effusion that may obviate the need for surgery and its related complications.