Minimally invasive transxiphoid approach for management of pediatric cardiac tamponade – one center's experience

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac tamponade is excessive collection of fluid in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart that leads to restriction of cardiac function and causes critical cardiogenic shock and rapid circulatory depression. Despite the potential variety of different etiologies in the face of a dangerous decrease of cardiac output, the emergency life-saving procedure is surgical pericardial fluid evacuation. AIM: To perform a retrospective analysis of clinical data and the results of minimally invasive transxiphoid pediatric cardiac tamponade evacuation procedures performed in a cardiac surgery center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients referred for treatment in our department in a period of 6 years (15 patients) who underwent emergency pericardial drainage after an echocardiographically proven diagnosis. The procedure of choice was minimally invasive transxiphoid fluid evacuation with routine pericardial drainage. Retrospective operative data analysis was performed: clinical symptoms, pre-admission and initial emergency diagnostics and interventions, the morphology and total amount of drained pericardial fluid, length of stay, final results, and overall survival rate. We introduced an original pediatric tamponade index (PTI). The PTI was analyzed according to catecholamine support before the drainage and the length of hospital stay after the procedure. RESULTS: All patients survived the procedure. No early complications of the presented minimally invasive subxiphoid approach were noted. Mean PTI in patients with intensive catecholamine support before the operation was significantly higher than in patients without it. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive surgical transxiphoid interventions appear to be a safe and effective method to provide life-saving support with retrieval of the fluid for further laboratory investigations.