Pericardial Effusion

Symptoms | Treatments

What is

Symptoms

Causes and Risk Factors

Diagnosis

Treatment

What is - Pericardial Effusion

A pericardial effusion occurs when there is excess fluid in the pericardium, which is the double-walled sac around the heart.

The condition exerts pressure on the heart and can lead to heart failure or death if left untreated.

Symptoms of Pericardial Effusion

Some signs of pericardial effusion include:

Chest pain or chest fullness
Difficulty breathing
Discomfort when breathing especially when lying down

However, a patient may not develop any symptoms, especially when the fluid has accumulated slowly.

Pericardial Effusion - Causes and Risk Factors

Causes

The space between the two layers typically contains a layer of fluid, known as the pericardial fluid. However, an injured or abnormal pericardium can result in the increase of fluid. Pericardial effusion can also develop when the flow of fluid is blocked or when blood builds up within the pericardium after an injury to the chest.

Risks

Excess fluid in the pericardium can exert pressure on the heart chambers, resulting in their inability to expand fully. This can then lead to cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening condition where blood and oxygen is unable to circulate efficiently to the body.

Diagnosis of Pericardial Effusion

The doctor will perform an initial evaluation and order some diagnostic tests to evaluate the condition of the patient.

Examples for initial diagnostic tests are:

Treatment for Pericardial Effusion

Cardiac tamponade is an emergency condition and the excess fluid has to be drained immediately. Pericardiocentesis is a procedure that uses a needle to remove fluid from the pericardial sac.

For patients who have failed or are unsuitable for pericardiocentesis, surgical drainage may be required for the relief of pericardial tamponade. During this surgical procedure, part of the pericardium may be cut and removed if required.

Doctors may also prescribe medication to stabilise blood pressure after the procedure