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Aetiological distribution and clinical features in children with large pericardial effusion who underwent pericardiocentesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2025

Furkan Donbaloğlu Open the ORCID record for Furkan Donbaloğlu [Opens in a new window] ,
Vehbi Doğan Open the ORCID record for Vehbi Doğan [Opens in a new window] ,
Serpil Kaya Çelebi Open the ORCID record for Serpil Kaya Çelebi [Opens in a new window] ,
Meryem Beyazal Open the ORCID record for Meryem Beyazal [Opens in a new window] ,
İlker U. Sayıcı Open the ORCID record for İlker U. Sayıcı [Opens in a new window]  and
Zeynep Donbaloğlu Open the ORCID record for Zeynep Donbaloğlu [Opens in a new window]
Furkan Donbaloğlu
Affiliation:
Akdeniz University, Department of Pediatrics, Antalya, Türkiye
Vehbi Doğan*
Affiliation:
Health Sciences University, Dr. Sami Ulus Children Research and Training Hospital, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ankara, Türkiye
Serpil Kaya Çelebi
Affiliation:
Ankara Atatürk Sanatorium Research and Training Hospital, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ankara, Türkiye
Meryem Beyazal
Affiliation:
Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ankara, Türkiye
İlker U. Sayıcı
Affiliation:
Ankara Etlik City Hospital, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ankara, Türkiye
Zeynep Donbaloğlu
Affiliation:
Antalya City Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Antalya, Türkiye
*
Corresponding author: Vehbi Doğan; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background:

We aimed to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics and aetiological factors of patients who underwent pericardiocentesis for moderate to large pericardial effusion.

Method:

A total of 38 patients who underwent pericardiocentesis due to moderate-severe pericardial effusion and not related to cardiac surgery were included in the study.

Results:

The male-to-female ratio was 2.16, and found to be 7.5 in patients over 3 years of age. Mean age and body weight of the patients were 69.4 ± 74.9 months and 22.5 ± 22.4 kg. Dyspnoea (51.7%) was the most common complaint, followed by chest pain (37.9%). Tamponade was present in 23.7% of the patients. The largest diameter of effusion was 24.4 ± 10.4 mm. The amount of fluid drained was 279.24 ± 279 ml. Macroscopic appearance was serous in 12 (34.3%), and haemorrhagic in 18 (51.4%). No complication related to procedure was seen. Aetiology for efusion was infectious in 26%, idiopathic in 18%, iatrogenic in 11%, rheumatological in 11%, malignancy in 8%, cardiomyopathy in 8%, and other factors related in 18%. Of the 38 patients, 16 received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), and colchicine and corticostreoid were added in nine and two patients, respectively. A total of eight (21%) patients died during follow-up.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, percutaneous pericardiocentesis can be applied safely and the underlying aetiology is decisive in the prognosis of the patient. Although pericardial effusion in children is often due to inflammation of the pericardium, it can develop as a finding of many local or systemic diseases that should be kept in mind.

Keywords

pericarditispericardial effusionpericardiocentesistamponade
Type
Original Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , First View , pp. 1 - 7
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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