Prolonged Drainage and Intrapericardial Bleomycin Administration for Cardiac Tamponade Secondary to Cancer-Related Pericardial Effusion

n=22 consecutive patients with malignant pericardial effusion (MPE) associated with a solid tumor and life expectancy >30 days, presenting with clinical signs of cardiac tamponade and echocardiographic evidence of hemodynamic compromise. Median age 60, 73% female, Italy.

Prolonged percutaneous drainage via subxiphoid pigtail catheter for 48 hours, followed by intrapericardial administration of bleomycin 10 mg (preceded by 100 mg lidocaine). The catheter was clamped for 2 hours, then reopened and removed when drainage was <25 mL/day.

Pericardial effusion progression-free survival and overall survivalhard clinical