In order to evaluate the usefulness of surgical drainage in the
treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS)-related cardiac tamponade, we reviewed our experience with
subxiphoid pericardiostomy on 5 consequent such patients. One patient
died in the immediate postoperative period and the remaining 4 died
within 21 weeks after the operation. Similar results have been reported
by other authors who found that surgical drainage has no diagnostic or
therapeutic benefit over pericardiocentesis in this particular group of
patients. Based on our limited experience and the data of the
literature, we feel that surgical drainage cannot be justified as the
primary method of treatment of AIDS-related cardiac tamponade. (C) 2004
by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
