Objective: Malignant pericardial effusion (MPE) is uncommon in advance stage cancer. However, it could cause a life-threatening condition such as cardiac tamponade. Surgical drainage routinely recommends as a rapid and effective treatment in this disease. This study aims to investigate an overall outcome after pleuro-pericardial window surgery in MPE patients.

Materials and Methods: From 2550-2560, 32 MPE patients who underwent pleuro-pericardial window were enrolled. Benign pericardial disease or patients who receive only pericardiocentesis or pericardial sclerosing agent were excluded. Baseline clinical data such as sex, primary cancer, complication rate and result of pathological from pericardial biopsy were collected, retrospectively. Overall survival (OS) was analysed by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

Results: There were 18 male patients with mean age of 55 years old. Majority of primary cancer was lung cancer, followed by breast cancer. Mean overall survival was 3.7 months. There was no recurrence. Overall survivals at 30-day mortality, 3 months and 1 year were 75%, 59% and 19%, respectively. In subgroup analysis, there was no difference in overall survival between lung cancer and non-lung cancer group. (P=0.650)

Conclusion: Pleuro-pericardial window is a safe and effective procedure with low recurrence rate. However, a decision making should be made individually for each patient.