Objective To evaluate the evolution of etiology, clinical characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes of pericardial effusions in the recent decade. Methods All patients with a diagnosis of pericardial effusion during h...Objective To evaluate the evolution of etiology, clinical characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes of pericardial effusions in the recent decade. Methods All patients with a diagnosis of pericardial effusion during hospitalization were recruited from the Hospital Inpatient System between January 1996 and December 2005. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory measurements, echocardiographic and treatment features, and in-hospital outcomes were retrospectively reviewed by using a standardized data collection form. Results One hundred and fifty-three consecutive patients were recruited. Mild, moderate and large pericardial effusion occurred in 61 (40%), 52 (34%) and 40 (26%) patients, respectively. The most frequent etiologic diagnoses were tuberculous pericarditis (n=50, 33%), malignancy (n=36, 24%) and idiopathic pericarditis (n=35, 23%). Large effusions were more likely associated with malignancy (P<0.01).Compared to the initial 5 years (from 1996 to 2000), the incidence of tuberculous effusion was decreased but neoplastic effusion increased significantly in the recent 5 years (from 2001 to 2005). Forty-four patients underwent percardiocentesis (tuberculous in 23, neoplastic in 16, and others in 5) and 28 patients required pericardectomy (tuberculous in 11 and neoplastic in 17). One patient with tuberculous and 3 patients with neoplastic pericardial effusion died during hospitalization. Conclusion Tuberculosis remains the major cause of pericardial effusion, but neoplastic pericardial effusions are on the rise. Pericardial drainage or pericardectomy are often required for symptomatic relief in those with malignancy-caused pericardial effusion.展开更多
文摘Objective To evaluate the evolution of etiology, clinical characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes of pericardial effusions in the recent decade. Methods All patients with a diagnosis of pericardial effusion during hospitalization were recruited from the Hospital Inpatient System between January 1996 and December 2005. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory measurements, echocardiographic and treatment features, and in-hospital outcomes were retrospectively reviewed by using a standardized data collection form. Results One hundred and fifty-three consecutive patients were recruited. Mild, moderate and large pericardial effusion occurred in 61 (40%), 52 (34%) and 40 (26%) patients, respectively. The most frequent etiologic diagnoses were tuberculous pericarditis (n=50, 33%), malignancy (n=36, 24%) and idiopathic pericarditis (n=35, 23%). Large effusions were more likely associated with malignancy (P<0.01).Compared to the initial 5 years (from 1996 to 2000), the incidence of tuberculous effusion was decreased but neoplastic effusion increased significantly in the recent 5 years (from 2001 to 2005). Forty-four patients underwent percardiocentesis (tuberculous in 23, neoplastic in 16, and others in 5) and 28 patients required pericardectomy (tuberculous in 11 and neoplastic in 17). One patient with tuberculous and 3 patients with neoplastic pericardial effusion died during hospitalization. Conclusion Tuberculosis remains the major cause of pericardial effusion, but neoplastic pericardial effusions are on the rise. Pericardial drainage or pericardectomy are often required for symptomatic relief in those with malignancy-caused pericardial effusion.
