[Ultrasonically guided pericardiocentesis].
Ultrasonically guided pericardiocentesis was performed on 25 occasions in 23 consecutive patients. Incipient cardiac tamponade was present in 22 patients and the procedure was performed for diagnostic purposes in one patient. In 21 cases, 5.7 French pig-tail catheters were employed and 1.2 mm lumbar puncture needles in four cases. In 19 out of 22 patients (86%) with incipient cardiac tamponade the ultrasonically guided pericardiocentesis was considered successful. In one patient, the catheter was misplaced in the right atrium, one patient developed pyopericardium and one patient developed transient tachycardia. In two cases, no material could be obtained. Ultrasonically guided pericardiocentesis is preferable to "blind" puncture and the procedure should be carried out by physicians with experience in interventional ultrasound.