[Direct contrast medium demonstration of acute and chronic pericardial effusion and of the pericardium (author's transl)].

After aspiration of the pericardial space 10 to 20 ml of contrast medium were injected into the pericardial sac in 11 patients with in part large pericardial effusions. Thus the effusion became directly visible on fluoroscopy and a satisfactory position of the aspiration cannula in the pericardial sac was ascertained. Complete drainage of the pericardial effusion could be well observed by fluoroscopy. The pericardial effusion dyed by contrast medium and the surrounding structures could be filmed by kinecardiography with a 35 mm camera ("pericardiography"). In contrast to echocardiography pericardiography resulted in additional important diagnostic information in two patients. Direct contrast medium demonstration of pericardial effusions and of the pericardium improves the safety during pericardial aspiration and enlarges the diagnostic possibilities particularly in ill-defined pericardial diseases and septated pericardial processes.