Eur J Trauma Emerg S
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Oct 2012
Blind subxiphoid pericardiotomy to relieve critical acute hemopericardium: a final report.
Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) has been considered a standard method of relieving acute cardiac tamponade. Although conventional subxiphoid pericardiotomy is useful even for clotted hemopericardium, it has been believed to be unsuitable for emergency treatment because it is a time-consuming procedure. We report our modified pericardiotomy technique that can be used for emergency management. ⋯ BSP was safe and effective for cardiac tamponade due to acute hemopericardium. Critical complications during PCD for hemopericardium could not be avoided in some cases because of clots in the pericardium.