Table of Contents
- Overview
- Results
- Risks
- Prevention
- Images
Pericardial tap; Percutaneous pericardiocentesis
Normal Values
There is normally a small amount of clear, straw-colored fluid in the pericardial space.
What abnormal results mean
Abnormal findings may indicate the cause of pericardial fluid accumulation, such as:
Cancer - Cardiac perforation
- Cardiac trauma
Congestive heart failure Pericarditis - Rupture of a ventricular
aneurysm
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Pericardiocentesis Risks
Review Date: 06/01/2010
Reviewed By: Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Feinberg School
of Medicine, Director, Northwestern Clinic Echocardiography Lab,
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed
Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
