VATS pericardiotomy for patients with known malignancy and pericardial effusion: Survival and prognosis of positive cytology and metastatic involvement of the pericardium: A case control study

Abstract

VATS Pericardiotomy can provide effective long-term drainage in patients with symptomatic pericardial effusion. Positive cytology and metastatic involvement of the pericardium are predictive of worse survival. Survival greater than 5 years can be expected in 19% and 17% of patients with negative fluid cytology and negative metastatic disease of the pericardium, respectively.