Objective: To describe profile and outcome in children with significant pericardial effusion.
Methods: Hospital records of 25 children admitted with significant pericardial effusion during January 2010 to March 2013 were analyzed.
Results: Thirteen (52%) children had tubercular, 6 (24%) had bacterial, 3 viral, 2 recurrent idiopathic and one had malignant pericardial effusion. Only 3 children in our series required surgical drainage.
Conclusion: Echocardiography guided percutaneous pericardiocentesis and pigtail catheter placement was found to be safe and effective.