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Pericardiocentesis - Risks

Alternative Names

Pericardial tap; Percutaneous pericardiocentesis

What the risks are:

Heart attack
Infection (pericarditis)
Irregular heartbeats arrhythmias
Puncture of the heart muscle, coronary artery, lung, liver, or stomach
Pneumopericardium (air in the pericardial sac)

Heart, front view

Pericardium

Reviewed last on: 5/12/2008
Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

LeWinter MM. Pericardial Diseases. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2007: Chap. 70.

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