Pericarditis with tamponade is known to occur in patients with chronic renal failure. It is an acute life-threatening emergency which requires immediate intervention. 6 patients with cardiac tamponade complicating uremic pericarditis who were treated at our institution from 1975 to 1984 are described. The diagnosis of pericardial tamponade was made by 2 D-echocardiography in the presence of jugular vein distension and pulsus paradoxus. Drainage by a percutaneously inserted pigtail catheter after subxiphoidal puncture was performed. Initial drainage of 707 (200-1660) ml fluid resulted in rapid improvement of the hemodynamic findings: the systolic blood pressure increased from 118 +/- 18 (SD) mm Hg to 157 +/- 16 mm Hg, the pulse pressure from 45 +/- 9 mm Hg to 79 +/- 11 mm Hg and the central venous pressure decreased from 21 +/- 6 cm H2O to 14 +/- 4. The catheters were left in place for a mean 61 (23-90) hours until no further fluid accumulated. As supportive measures, non-absorbable steroids were instilled via the percardial catheters and dialysis treatment was intensified. No complications were observed and no recurrence of effusion or development of constriction was noted for 9 to 35 months. In conclusion, subxiphoidal pericardiostomy with prolonged drainage and local steroid instillation has been found to be an effective and safe method which provides immediate and lasting relief.