Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy: a case report and analysis of mechanism of action.

A 33-year-old man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cardiac tamponade underwent percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy. To elucidate the pathway of fluid elimination, at the end of the procedure, we injected methylene blue into the pericardial space. Contrary to previous belief, we found no blue discoloration of the pleural fluids, and thus we postulate that most of the fluid was eliminated by peritoneal resorption.