Minerva cardioangiologica
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Minerva cardioangiologica · Oct 2017
Safety and efficacy of non-continuous echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis: a single-center study of 478 patients.
There are limited contemporary data on the safety and efficacy of echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis in Italy. The aim of the study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of pericardiocentesis, performed with non-continuous echocardiography monitoring. All the procedures performed at Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Ospedali Riuniti Ancona, from January 2001 to June 2013, were retrospectively analyzed to determine risks connected to the procedure and its success rate. Epidemiological data, procedure indications and etiology of the effusions were also recorded. ⋯ Echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis is an effective and safe procedure, with a low rate of complications.