Physical examination: A doctor may hear abnormal sounds over the heart that can suggest inflammation.
Diagnosisīecause these often cause no symptoms, they’re frequently discovered after the results of routine tests are abnormal. Palpitations (sensation that the heart is pounding or beating fast)Ī pericardial effusion with these symptoms is a medical emergency and may be life-threatening.Large, serious pericardial effusions, or smaller ones that develop quickly, may cause symptoms that include: When there’s no inflammation of the sac, there are often no symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (if you have a virus).It may get worse when you breathe deeply and better when you lean forward. When inflammation of the sac causes a pericardial effusion, the main symptom is chest pain. Your doctor may call these idiopathic pericardial effusions. Bacterial infections, including tuberculosis.Autoimmune disease ( lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and others).Severe kidney failure, also called uremia.Injury to the sac or heart from a medical procedure.Other conditions that can cause these effusions include: In these cases, treating the underlying medical condition will often help treat the effusion. Viral infections are one of the main causes of the inflammation and the effusions it leads to. As it becomes inflamed, more fluid is produced. In most cases, inflammation of the sac, a condition called pericarditis, leads to the effusion. Very large ones may have more than 2 liters. Small ones may contain 100 milliliters of fluid. If you have a pericardial effusion, much more fluid sits there. That fluid helps your heart move easier within the sac.
Normally, 2 to 3 tablespoons of clear, yellow pericardial fluid are between the sac's two layers. When your heart beats, it slides easily within it. The pericardium is a tough and layered sac. Many are not harmful, but they sometimes can make the heart work poorly. Occasionally, open heart surgery is needed to drain fluid or repair the pericardium.A pericardial effusion is excess fluid between the heart and the sac surrounding the heart, known as the pericardium. When draining procedures are ineffective, a more invasive procedure called a pericardiectomy may be required, during which a surgeon removes part or all of the pericardium. Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy is another catheter-guided draining procedure, but it uses a balloon to create a small hole in the pericardium to ease draining. This treatment may need to be repeated if fluid buildup continues. If the health care team determines that it’s necessary to drain the excess fluid, they may recommend a procedure called pericardiocentesis, which uses a needle and small catheter to drain the fluid. Normally there is a small amount of fluid between the two thin layers of the pericardium, but certain medical problems like autoimmune diseases, cancer, injuries or infections can cause too much fluid to build up, leading to uncomfortable or even life-threatening cardiovascular symptoms.ĭepending on the severity of the buildup, pericardial effusion may be treatable with medicines. Pericardial effusion is a buildup of fluid in the pericardium, a fibrous sac that surrounds the heart.
0 kommentar(er)
