• Mehmet Uzun, Cem Koz, Ata Kirilmaz, Oben Baysan, Sabri Kursad Erinc, Fethi Kilicaslan, Mustafa Ozkan, Nadir Barindik, Hasan Fehmi Tore, and Ertan Demirtas.
• Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Cardiology, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey. muzun@gata.edu.tr
• Acta Cardiol. 2004 Apr 1; 59 (2): 141-5.

ObjectiveThoracic impedance cardiography (TIC) is a noninvasive method which has proved to be useful in monitoring the haemodynamic status of the patients. In this study, we evaluated the TIC findings in patients with pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade.Methods And ResultsThe study consisted of patients with pericardial effusion with (group A) or without (group B) cardiac tamponade (CT). The stroke volume, cardiac output and ejection fraction was measured by both echocardiography and TIC. The measurements were done at baseline in both groups and following pericardiocentesis in group A. The variables were compared by linear regression analysis, paired sample's t test and chi-square test. The study included 32 patients. Group A consisted of 16 patients and group B of 14 patients. Two patients were excluded from comparisons because of insufficient quality of the echocardiographic examination. There were no significant differences between group A and B with regard to demographic features. Both echocardiographic and TIC measurements at baseline revealed decreased cardiac output, EDV and SV in group A and EF was not different. Linear regression analysis revealed that echocardiography and TIC were in significant correlation with regard to cardiac output, enddiastolic volume, stroke volume (p < 0.01) but not ejection fraction (p = 0.8910). The correlation was also present after pericardiocentesis.ConclusionsTIC can be safely used in patients with pericardial effusion. It provides suggestive data for the diagnosis of CT and can be used as a means of monitoring the results of the pericardiocentesis.

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