Intracardiac echocardiography identifies pericardial fluid and can monitorthe success of pericardiocentesis: Experimental studies

Pericardial tamponade is a complication of cardiac catheterization. Our pur pose was to evaluate the ability of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) to identify pericardial fluid and the success of pericardiocentesis in an expe rimental model. Seven dogs were studied with the use of a 10F, 10-MHz ICE c atheter in the left ventricle, Normal saline was injected into the pericard ial space while heart rate and arterial pressure were continuously monitore d The ability of ICE to identify the presence of pericardial fluid and the maximum pericardial separation and to monitor fluid accumulation and withdr awal was evaluated. Thirteen sequences of saline injection/withdrawal were studied. ICE correctly identified the presence or absence of pericardial fl uid in all 13 injection/withdrawal sequences. The average sonolucent space separating epicardium from pericardium was 12 +/- 7 mm, generated from 148 +/- 65 mL of saline and producing a 35 +/- 23 mm Hg decrease in systolic bl ood pressure. ICE readily identified the accumulation and removal of perica rdial fluid in this experimental model and should be an excellent tool to m onitor pericardiocentesis in the catheterization laboratory.