Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
Pericardiocentesis is an invasive procedure and therefore has associated risks. Complications are possible, but have become less common due to guided imaging techniques that improved the past blind approach. Possible risks include:
- puncture...
of the myocardium, the outer muscle layer of the heart - puncture of a coronary artery, a blood vessel that supplies blood to heart muscle
- myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- needle induced arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
- pneumopericardium, air entry into the pericardial sac
- infection of the pericardial membranes (pericarditis)
- accidental puncture of the stomach, lung, or liver
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Other Information
In medicine, pericardiocentesis is a procedure where fluid is aspirated from the pericardium (the sac enveloping the heart).
It is generally done under ultrasound guidance, to minimize complications. There are two locations that pericardiocentesis can be performed without puncturing the lungs.
One location is through the 5th or 6th intercostal space at the left sternal border at the cardiac notch of the left lung.
The other location is through the infrasternal angle.
Other Information
How many open-heart surgeries are performed each year? In 2005 in the United States, these procedures were performed: Valve replacements 106,000 Bypass (cardiac revascularization) 469,000 Heart transplants (performed in 2006) 2,192 Total open-heart procedures 699,000.
From: American Heart Association
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