i need to know what is an heart tap?

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Doyou mean a pericardial tap (pericardiocentesis)? If so this is done to determine the cause of fluid buildup around the heart. The pericardium is a tissue sac that surrounds the heart. It protects the heart and parts of the major blood vessels connected to the heart. Normally, there is a small amount of fluid between the pericardium and the heart. This fluid surrounds and helps cushion the heart, reducing friction between the heart and other structures in the chest when the heart beats. Some diseases allow too much fluid to collect within the pericardium (pericardial effusion). Excess fluid can prevent normal filling of the heart, which can reduce the heart's ability to pump blood (cardiac tamponade).

A pericardial tap may be done to determine the cause of pericardial effusion. During this test, a needle is inserted through the chest wall and the pericardium to remove a sample of the fluid. The fluid is sent to a laboratory to help identify the cause of the pericardial effusion. At the laboratory, the pericardial fluid is measured and analyzed for the presence of blood, microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses), white blood cells, sugar (glucose), and cancer cells. In some cases, the pericardial fluid may be analyzed for the presence of other substances (such as carcinoembryonic antigen, or CEA).

A pericardial tap may also be done to help relieve pressure on the heart. It is sometimes done in an emergency if a serious injury has occurred, such as a gunshot or stab wound to the chest or a massive heart attack. In these circumstances, blood or fluid can build up very rapidly in the pericardium. An emergency pericardial tap can be done to remove the blood or excess pericardial fluid surrounding the heart.

Why It Is Done

A pericardial tap is done to:

Relieve pressure on the heart when cardiac tamponade is suspected.
Diagnose the cause of pericardial effusion that may include a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection, or cancer.
Relieve fluid buildup from heart failure or autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, kidney failure, hypothyroidism, or lupus.
How To Prepare

Tell your health professional if you:

Have allergies to any medications, including anesthetics.
Take any medications, particularly antibiotics or blood thinners (anticoagulants).
Have had bleeding problems.
Unless the procedure is being performed on an emergency basis, you will be asked to sign a consent form. Talk to your health professional about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will indicate. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

You may be asked to restrict food or fluids before the test. Some blood tests, including those to check for anemia (such as a complete blood count) and blood clotting problems, may be done before the test.

Because this is a test involving your heart, you will likely stay one night in the hospital to be monitored closely. If a drain is inserted during the test, you may stay several days in the hospital.

How It Is Done

A diagnostic pericardial tap is usually done in a cardiac procedure room. If the tap is being done to relieve pressure on the heart, it may be done in an emergency room or in your hospital room. This procedure is normally performed by a cardiologist, a cardiovascular surgeon, or an emergency medicine doctor.

During the test, your heart is monitored using electrocardiography. You will have an intravenous (IV) line for any medications that may need to be given during the test. You may be given a mild sedative to help you relax.

In nonemergency situations, you will lean back at an angle on the bed or table. Your chest will be shaved (if necessary), cleansed with an antiseptic solution, and covered with sterile drapes.

A local anesthetic will be injected to numb the skin and deeper tissues, and then a thin needle about 5 in.(12.7 cm) long will be carefully inserted just below your breastbone. In some cases the needle is inserted between your ribs on the left side over your heart. In either case, the needle is slowly advanced through the pericardial sac into the pericardial space. Fluid is then removed and sent to the laboratory. At different times during the procedure, you may be asked to hold your breath. You must remain very still throughout the procedure. An electrocardiography machine may be attached by a wire to the needle to help the doctor guide the needle into the pericardial space. In some hospitals an echocardiogram is done simultaneously to help the doctor follow the location of the needle during the procedure, or an X-ray camera may be used to guide the procedure.

After some or all of the fluid is removed, the needle is withdrawn and pressure is applied to the injection site for several minutes to stop any bleeding. Fluid also may be drained through a thin catheter over a period of hours.

This procedure takes 10 to 20 minutes. After the test, you will have a chest X-ray to check for possible puncture and collapse of your left lung. You will be closely observed for several hours, with frequent checks of your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate.

How It Feels

You will feel a brief stinging pain when the local anesthetic is injected. When the needle is inserted into the pericardial sac, you may feel a sensation of pressure. You may also notice some irregular or "skipped" heartbeats during the test. Notify your doctor immediately if you feel severe chest pain or shortness of breath during or after the procedure.

Risks

A pericardial tap can be a risky procedure, though few serious or life-threatening complications occur when it is performed by an experienced doctor. It is possible for the needle to puncture the heart or one of its blood vessels. In rare instances, the needle may also puncture the lung, the liver, or the stomach. These complications may require surgery to repair.

If the needle touches the heart, an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) may be triggered, but the irregularity usually stops when the needle is removed. In rare instances, such an arrhythmia can be fatal. There is also a slight chance of spreading infection from the skin to the pericardial space when the needle is inserted.

After the test
After leaving the hospital, call 911 or other emergency services immediately if you develop:

Chest pain or symptoms of a heart attack.
Moderate to severe difficulty breathing.
Signs of shock.
Call your doctor immediately if you:

Vomit blood.
Develop a fever.
Have shortness of breath.
Experience dizziness.
Results

A pericardial tap (pericardiocentesis) is done to determine the cause of fluid buildup around the heart and to relieve pressure on the heart. The excess fluid removed during the pericardial tap will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Some results will be available within hours, while others may take days or weeks

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The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.

i need to know what is an heart tap?

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