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Alternative Techniques for Pericardiocentesis

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Interventional Pericardiology

Abstract

Pericardiocentesis of moderate, small or loculated pericardial effusions is a controversial issue. It should not be routinely performed if the patient is not symptomatic and effusion is spontaneously resolving and unless further diagnostic and/or therapeutic options are available (e.g. pericardioscopy, epicardial or pericardial biopsy, application of intrapericardial treatment). In addition, access to the small or moderated effusions requires a learning curve. Several experimental and few clinical concepts have been developed for access of a small pericardial effusion or normal pericardium. These procedures will be reviewed in the following sections.

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Maisch, B., Ristić, A.D., Seferović, P.M., Tsang, T.S.M. (2011). Alternative Techniques for Pericardiocentesis. In: Interventional Pericardiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11335-2_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11335-2_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-11334-5

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