A novel percutaneous technique for accessing the normal pericardium: a single-center successful experience of 53 porcine procedures.

Recently, the pericardial space has been under consideration as an ideal site for prevention and treatment of coronary artery and heart disease. Historically, safe percutaneous entry has not been possible to sample or remove pericardial fluids for diagnostic purposes or to employ therapeutic agents in the absence of a sizable pericardial effusion. A non-surgical percutaneous approach to permit rapid access to the normal or minimally effused pericardial space holds high potential for considerable diagnostic and therapeutic utility. This study examines the utility of the PerDUCER pericardial access device, a simplistic approach to permit percutaneous access to the normal, minimal or diseased pericardial space, in a large series of animals (swine). The PerDUCER , inserted through the introducer sheath in a sub-xiphoid position, allowed capture and delivery of the intrapericardial guidewire into the pericardial space in all animals. The procedure was well tolerated by all animals and exhibited no signs of significant adverse hemodynamic effects. Twelve animals were sacrificed immediately after the experiment, while 41 animals were sacrificed 28 days after the procedure. Histologic examination showed no occurrence of epicardial vessel or myocardial damage. In addition, no late complications were found related to pericardial access with the PerDUCER . This initial experiment demonstrates that the PerDUCER provides an efficient, safe and effective technique to gain pericardial access in the normal or minimal pericardial space to obtain diagnostic sampling of the pericardial fluids and renders local intrapericardial delivery of therapeutic agents a possibility.