Pericardial window
Template:Interventions infobox
|
Pericarditis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Surgery |
|
Case Studies |
|
Pericardial window On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Pericardial window |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
A pericardial window is a cardiac surgical procedure to create a fistula - or "window" - from the pericardial space to the peritoneal cavity.[1] The purpose of the window is to allow a pericardial effusion (usually malignant) to drain from the space surrounding the heart into the abdomen - where the fluid is not as dangerous; an untreated pericardial effusion can lead to cardiac tamponade and death.
The window is usually performed by a cardiac surgeon who makes an incision, commonly sub-xiphoid, and cuts a small hole in the pericardium
References
- ↑ Stuart J. Hutchison (10 December 2008). Pericardial diseases: clinical diagnostic imaging atlas. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 93–. ISBN 9781416052746. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
Template:Cardiac surgery and other cardiovascular procedures Cateogry:Emergency medicine