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  • Safety and Feasibility of Performing Pericardiocentesis on Patients with Significant Pulmonary Hypertension

    Highlights

    • Pericardiocentesis is a safe procedure, major complications <2%.
    • Safety of pericardiocentesis in pulmonary hypertension patients is not established.
    • No major complications were seen in pulmonary hypertension patients in our study.
    • No pericardiocentesis complications were seen in WHO Group I PAH patients.
    • Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings in this patient population.

    Abstract

    Background/purpose

    Pericardial effusion (PE) is a complication of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) and, specifically, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), that confers a worse prognosis. The safety of performing pericardiocentesis in patients with PHT has not been established. We aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of performing pericardiocentesis in patients with significant PHT.

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