PERICARDIAL BIOPSY AND FENESTRATION

Employing a video thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration constitutes a promising technique for the investigation and treatment of chronic pericardial effusions. It combines the benefit of low invasiveness with the advantages of open biopsy. The procedure simultaneously allows both an accurate diagnosis under visual control (inspection, aspiration, well targeted biopsy of pathological processes) and the performance of effective therapeutic intervention. Without imposing unacceptable stress, it also facilitates rapid symptom relief in patients with advanced malignant disease whose general condition is severely impaired. © 1993 The European Society of Cardiology.