Pericardiocentesis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heart, front view

Pericardium

Overview

Risks

Results

Pericardiocentesis

Alternative Names:

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 the following:

Cardiac perforation
Pericarditis
Congestive heart failure
Cancer
Cardiac trauma
Rupture of a ventricular aneurysm (stretching and bulging of a weakened ventricular wall)

Review Date: 11/22/2004
Reviewed By: Fabian Arnaldo, M.D., Department of Cardiology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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