Perflutren microspheres for contrast echocardiography in a bloody pericardiocentesis.

We report the cases of 2 patients who presented with clinical and echocardiographic evidence of cardiac tamponade. Therapeutic echocardiographic-guided pericardiocentesis yielded bloody fluid. In both patients, Definity perflutren lipid microspheres were used for echocardiographic contrast, which helped to assess the needle's location. To the best of our knowledge, this is the 1st reported use of perflutren microspheres for this purpose.