Transdiaphragmatic drainage of pericardial effusion with severe pericardial adhesions.

Ohkado, A; Sato, M; Tomizawa, Y; Nishida, H; Endo, M; Koyanagi, H · Ann Thorac Surg · 1996

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

We describe a method to perform successful drainage of pericardial effusion by incising the diaphragm via the peritoneal cavity assisted by transesophageal echocardiography. This transdiaphragmatic approach is a remarkably simple and useful method for pericardial drainage when the conventional transsubxiphoid approach is difficult and dangerous because of intractable adhesions between the heart and the pericardium.

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