[Thoracoscopic Pericardial Fenestration for Refractory Pericardial Effusion with Cardiac Tamponade;Report of a Case].

We performed thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration for a 70-year-old man who suffered from refractory pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade. Under general anesthesia with differential lung ventilation, pericardial fenestration followed by needle aspiration of the enough pericardial effusion to obtain the working space was carried out by thoracoscopic surgery through the left thoracic space. Postoperative course was uneventful and reaccumulation of the pericardial fluid has not been observed more than 2 years after surgery.