INOUE BALLOON PERICARDIOTOMY FOR PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT PERICARDIAL-EFFUSION

The results and follow-up data for 11 patients with recurrent pericard ial effusion due to various etiologies who underwent balloon pericardi otomy with the Inoue balloon catheter between May 1992 and July 1994 a re described. Inoue balloon pericardiotomy was successful in 10 patien ts (91%), who remained free of pericardial effusion at a mean follow-u p duration of 4.2 months. All patients tolerated the procedure well wi th minimal discomfort and with no complications. Despite good symptoma tic relief, 9 patients (82%) eventually succumbed to disease dissemina tion, with a mean survival time of 1.4 months. It is concluded that In oue balloon pericardiotomy is a safe and useful alternative to surgica l pericardial windowing for the symptomatic treatment of recurrent per icardial effusion.