Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Prevention and treatment of pericardial tamponade in the electrophysiology laboratory: a European Heart Rhythm Association survey
Authors' conclusion
The current survey demonstrates that the management of PT is heterogeneous among centres.
Study context
- Population
- Electrophysiology (EP) operators/centres (EHRA Research Network and social media), May–June 2023
- Participants
- 213 replies
- Outcome
- Practices in prevention and treatment of pericardial tamponade in the EP lab
Methodological detailsonline survey, 26 multiple-choice questions, EHRA Research Network
- Online survey
- 26 multiple-choice questions
- EHRA Research Network
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Pericardial tamponade (PT) management practices
- Perform interventions in dedicated EP labs
- 90%
- Sheaths introduced into pericardial space
- 84.3%
- Protamine applied
- 84.6%
- Novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) antidotes not used
- 73.3%
- NOAC antidotes routinely applied
- 15.2%
- Re-transfusion of aspirated blood
- 72.1%
- Re-transfusion before protamine
- 18.2%
- Re-transfusion after protamine
- 13.5%
- Re-transfusion if effusion cannot be controlled
- 40.4%
- Re-transfusion without blood filter systems
- 72.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Prevention and treatment of pericardial tamponade in the electrophysiology laboratory: a European Heart Rhythm Association survey. Europace. Published 2 January 2024. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it