Cardiac tamponade

While routine imaging after drainage is not recommended to detect re-accumulation, patients should be followed up closely for the development of symptoms. There should be a low threshold to re-image if patients become symptomatic. For patients with pericardial drains in place, repeat echocardiogram may be performed before removal of the drain. Patients who have undergone a surgical pericardial 'window' are at some risk to re-accumulate an effusion, particularly if the aetiology of the effusion persists.