Pericardial-peritoneal window: a novel palliative treatment for malignant and recurrent cardiac tamponade.

Transdiaphragmatic approach to the pericardium through a subxiphoid incision is a safe, rapid, and effective way to obtain drainage of the pericardium fluid in patient of disseminated malignancy with recurrent cardiac tamponade. No drainage tubes are needed; pericardial fluid is absorbed by the peritoneum; there is no need for double lumen tubes for single lung ventilation and the subxiphoid incisions are small and almost painless.