| Pericardial window | |
|---|---|
| Intervention | |
| ICD-9-CM | 37.12 |
A pericardial window is a cardiac surgical procedure to create a fistula - or "window" - from the pericardial space to the pleural cavity.[1] The purpose of the window is to allow a pericardial effusion (usually malignant) to drain from the space surrounding the heart into the chest cavity - where the fluid is not as dangerous; an untreated pericardial effusion can lead to cardiac tamponade and death.
The window is usually performed by a cardiac surgeon who makes an incision, commonly sub-xiphoid, and cuts a small hole in the pericardium which is the membrane that surrounds the heart.