When is pericardiocentesis performed?

Fluiid around heart: If the sac surrounding the hear tills with fluid, it is sometimes drained off by placing a needle into that sac. There are two reasons to do a pericardiocentesis. (putting a needle into the sac and removing the fluid. 1. To examine the fluid so that the reason for the fluid being there can be found 2. To improve the patients symptoms. (the fluid compresses the heart causing symptoms).

For excessive fluid: The surgeon or cardiologist may do this with local or additional anesthesia depending on the issue. Fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or ct can be used to help guide the needle and / or/ catheter introduction through the skin, soft tissue, pericardium to get to the fluid or blood identified on the original test-echo. The goal is to relieve tamponade and make a diagnosis.