Özet:

Objective: Pericardial effusion is a common finding in everyday practice and causes of pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocentesis are very complex. We aimed to investigate the most common etiology of large pericardial effusions and diagnostic value of pericardiocentesis through a needle between our patients who underwent fluoroscopy guided pericardiocentesis because of large pericardial effusion or tamponade.Materials and methods: Medical records of patients between June 2008- January 2010 were evaluated retrospectively.Results: Mean age was 54.9± 16.7 years, and 42 (59.2%) of patients were female. Most common presenting symptom was dispnea (94.3%). Echocardiographic analysis showed tamponade in 58 patients (81.6%). Lung malignancy was the most common malignancy (15 patients). The average drainage period was 1.7± 1.0 day, and total drainage volume was 1297 ± 474 ml. The fluid was hemorrhagic in 31 (43.6%) patients. Histopathological examination of the pericardial fluid was positive for malignant cells in 8 (25.8%) of the 31 patient. Acute inflammatory cells were seen in 8 pericardial fluid samples. Microbiologic cultures identified the microorganisms in 4 cases. Periprocedural complications were seen in 2 patients. Recurrence was seen in 8 (11.2%) patients within 30 days, and all of these 8 patients had malignancy. Conclusion: Malignancy is the most common cause of pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocentesis drainage in our hospital. Short drainage periods and underlying malignancy is associated with recurrence.

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