Why the study?
Does percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy prevent recurrence of malignant pericardial effusions?
Does percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy prevent recurrence of malignant pericardial effusions?
Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy offers a potentially important, less traumatic alternative to open surgery for managing recurrent malignant pericardial effusions.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Shows procedural feasibility with inconsistent recurrence in case reports; leaves open efficacy of balloon pericardiotomy for malignant effusions.
Two patients with recurrent symptomatic pericardial effusions secondary to malignant disease were successfully treated by percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy. Open surgery was avoided and the procedure was completed under local anaesthesia in less than 40 minutes. The first patient was free of recurrence at nine months but pericardial effusion recurred at two months in the second patient. Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy offers a potentially important new means of relieving recurrent tamponade and substantially reduces trauma to the patient.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Jackson et al. (1992) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: