Evaluation of intrapericardial cisplatin administration in cases with recurrent malignant pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade

To evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of intrapericardial administration of cisplatin in prevention of recurrent malignant pericardial effusion.

Forty-six patients (33 men, 13 women; mean age 55.6±10.5 years) entered this study. The diagnosis of malignancy was based upon histological examination of samples from primary tumor. The majority of patients suffered from a neoplasm localized in the thorax (41 out of 46 patients; 89%). In 35 cases, pericardiocentesis, and in 11 cases, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) of pericardium was performed. Malignant etiology of pericardial fluid was confirmed by cytological examination, histology being obtained by VATS pericardial biopsy or by echocardiography (ECG). If daily drainage of pericardial fluid observed during 5–7 days exceeded 50 ml, cisplatin was instilled according to one of three regimens: (1) 10 mg of cisplatin dissolved in 20 ml of normal saline administered over 5 min during 5 consecutive days directly into the pericardial space (39 patients); (2) 50 mg of cisplatin dissolved in 100 ml of normal saline administered during 30 min (six patients); and (3) 20 mg of cisplatin dissolved in 40 ml of normal saline administered over 10 min during 5 consecutive days (one patient). Treatment was considered as successful when recurrence of symptoms of large pericardial effusion was not observed in ECG and other interventions directed to the pericardium were not required. Efficacy of investigated treatment was assessed also in the group of patients with survival longer than 30 days. Safety of treatment was assessed in the whole group of patients.

Because of advanced malignancy eight out of 46 patients (17.4%) survived less than 30 days. Thirty-eight out of 46 cases (82.6%) survived more than 30 days. Positive effect of intrapericardial treatment with cisplatin was achieved in 43 out of 46 patients (93.5%) in the entire investigated group and in 35 out of 38 patients (92%) who survived more than 30 days. In the subgroup of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and survival longer than 30 days, high efficacy was documented (29 out of 31 cases; 93.5%). Median survival time in the group of 38 patients who survived more than 30 days was 102.5 days. Atrial fibrillation due to cisplatin administration was observed in seven out of 46 patients (15.2%). Sclerosis of the pericardial space without symptoms of constriction occurred in five out of 46 cases (10.9%).

Cisplatin administered directly into the pericardial space is a very effective and relatively safe method of treatment of recurrent malignant pericardial effusion, especially in the course of NSCLC.