Pericardial effusion

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Pericardial effusion
File:Pericardial effusion with tamponade (cropped).gif
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue
Complications	Cardiac tamponade, constrictive pericarditis
Onset	Gradual or sudden
Duration	Variable
Types	N/A
Causes	Infection, inflammation, trauma, cancer, autoimmune disease
Risks	Heart surgery, kidney failure, hypothyroidism
Diagnosis	Echocardiogram, chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI
Differential diagnosis	Heart failure, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Pericardiocentesis, anti-inflammatory medication, surgery
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Depends on underlying cause
Frequency	Common
Deaths	N/A

Pericardial effusion is fluid buildup inside of the pericardium, affecting the performance of the heart.

Pathophysiology

• In pericardial effusion, there is extra fluid collects between the heart and the pericardium (the sac around the heart).
• The extra fluid causes pressure on the heart.
• This keeps it from pumping blood normally.
• Lymph vessels may also be blocked, which can cause infection.

Causes

Pericardial effusions may be caused by cancer or cancer treatment, infection, injury, autoimmune disorders, thyroid disease or kidney problems etc.

Symptoms

Symptoms of pericardial effusion include chest pain, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. Fever is a common symptom of acute pericarditis.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis was with physical exam, imaging tests, and heart tests such as echocardiography to make a diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause and may involve pericardiocentesis

Complications

If the pericardial effusion is severe, it can lead to a life threatening emergency called cardiac tamponade where the heart is compressed due to pressure of the fluid in the pericardial sac. Immediate medical attention is required in thi case.

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