What procedure involves the removal of excess fluid from the pericardial cavity?

The procedure that involves the removal of excess fluid from the pericardial cavity is known as pericardiocentesis. This medical intervention is specifically designed to treat conditions such as pericardial effusion, where fluid accumulates in the space surrounding the heart. During the procedure, a needle is inserted into the pericardial space, often guided by ultrasound imaging, to aspirate (remove) the excess fluid. This helps relieve pressure on the heart, which can improve cardiovascular function and patient comfort.

Understanding the context of this procedure is essential. Pericardiocentesis can be performed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It allows healthcare professionals to sample the fluid for analysis to determine the underlying cause of the effusion, such as infection, malignancy, or inflammatory conditions. This distinction makes pericardiocentesis a critical procedure in managing pericardial diseases.

Other options like cardiac catheterization involve procedures to diagnose and treat heart conditions but do not specifically focus on the pericardial cavity. Endocardial biopsy is related to the sampling of heart tissue, and coronary angioplasty is a technique to open narrowed coronary arteries; neither addresses fluid removal from the pericardium. Thus, pericardioc