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Pericardial effusions in infants and children: injection of echo contrast medium enhances the safety of echocardiographically-guided pericardiocentesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2008

Eberhard Georg Mühler ,
Wolfgang Engelhardt  and
Götz von Bernuth
Eberhard Georg Mühler*
Affiliation:
Klinikfür Kinderkardiologie, Universitätsklinikum der Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen, Aachen, Germany
Wolfgang Engelhardt
Affiliation:
Klinikfür Kinderkardiologie, Universitätsklinikum der Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen, Aachen, Germany
Götz von Bernuth
Affiliation:
Klinikfür Kinderkardiologie, Universitätsklinikum der Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen, Aachen, Germany
*
PD Dr. E. G. Mühler, Klinik für Kinderkardiologie, Universitätsklinikum der Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, D - 52057 Aachen, Germany. Tel: 49 241 8088981; Fax: 49 241 8888450
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Abstract

Pericardiocentesis is usually an easy and uncomplicated procedure when guided by cross-sectional echocardiography, but an abnormal intracardiac or extrapericardial position of the puncture system can occur, especially in children. Injection of echo contrast medium through the puncture needle is a very sensitive, quick, easy and harmless procedure which can be performed at the bedside in all cases in which doubt remains concerning the location of the needle. Prompt enhancement of signal intensity of the peri-cardial fluid validates the correct intrapericardial position, and permits visualization of the tip of the needle. Absence of echodense formations excludes an intrapericardial position. We recommend the use of echo contrast medium during pericardiocentesis whenever blood is aspirated through the needle, or if there is any doubt concerning its location.

Keywords

Pericardial effusiondrainage methodscontrast-echocardiographyinfantschildren
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 8 , Issue 4 , October 1998 , pp. 506 - 508
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

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