bandage-green

Pericardial Drainage (Window / Pericardiocentesis)

Anesthesia Implications

Clinically reviewed by anesthesia providers · Updated

Position : Supine, Semi-Fowlers, one arm extended
Time : 30-60 min (short)
Blood Loss : Low (10-50 ml)
Post-op Pain : Moderate (4-6)
Maintenance Paralytic : Avoid until the pericardium is drained - spontaneous ventilation is protective in tamponade.
Considerations : Arterial line, Aspiration risk / Full stomach, Fluoroscopy / Xray, Off-site, Anticoagulation / Antiplatelet Therapy

Anesthetic Approaches

1MAC, Local Anesthetic
2GETT, 1/2 MAC Gas
3Local Anesthetic
The Surgery

Diagnosis and urgency - Tamponade is a clinical diagnosis confirmed by echocardiography. The findings are a swinging heart in a fluid-filled sac, right atrial systolic collapse, right ventricular...

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