Ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis is a relatively safe procedure with a high success rate of >95%, a morbidity rate of 1-3%, and a mortality rate of less than 1%.
What are the potential complications and risks associated with pericardiocentesis?
While ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis is a standard and potentially life-saving procedure, it carries a 4-20% overall complication rate, necessitating careful patient selection, image guidance, and post-procedural monitoring.
Pericardiocentesis (PC) is both a diagnostic and a potentially life-saving therapeutic procedure. Currently echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis is considered the standard clinical practice in the treatment of large pericardial effusions and cardiac tamponade. Although considered relatively safe, this invasive procedure may be associated with certain risks and potentially serious complications. This review provides a summary of pericardiocentesis and a focused overview of the potential complications of this procedure.
Stawicki et al. (2015) conducted a review in Pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was evaluated on Complication rates. Ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis is a relatively safe procedure with a high success rate of >95%, a morbidity rate of 1-3%, and a mortality rate of less than 1%.