HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Franca M.A. Melfi Carlo Alberto Angeletti Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Melfi, F. M.A. Articles by Angeletti, C. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Melfi, F. M.A. Articles by Angeletti, C. A. Related Collections Pericardium

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2002;21:345-347
© 2002 Elsevier Science NL

How-to-do-it

The management of malignant pericardial effusions using permanently implanted devices

Division of Thoracic Surgery – Cardiac and Thoracic Department, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Received 14 September 2001; received in revised form 20 November 2001; accepted 24 November 2001.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-50-995211; fax: +39-50-995214
e-mail: f.melfi{at}med.unipi.it

We present a new approach utilising VATS and a Port-system (Medi-Port MP-GS9; IAP-HMP) that allows home management of pericardial effusion in patients with advanced malignancy and recurrent effusion. All patients underwent thoracoscopic pericardial window under general anaesthesia. On completion of this procedure a Port-system was permanently implanted with the reservoir body placed in a subcutaneous pocket and the outlet catheter inserted into the pleural cavity which allows aspiration of the effusion at home, on becoming symptomatic.

Key Words: Malignant effusion • Pericardial window • Thoracoscopy