X-rayĪ doctor may order an X-ray to examine the heart and check for abnormalities. If your doctor uses a needle, they will put local anesthesia on the skin around the area where they will insert it and ensure that no structures nearby could cause damage if struck. So if you have those symptoms, they’ll be treated first. This test, called pericardiocentesis, usually can’t be done if there’s an infection or swelling in your pericardium. Your doctor may also check for pericardial effusion by using a needle to draw fluid from around your heart. The test can help your doctor determine how much fluid is around your heart and whether it’s causing any problems. Still, it is not sensitive enough to accurately detect pericardial effusion in people without underlying heart disease or who have not had a recent heart attack. Medical Diagnosis for Pericardial effusionĪn electrocardiogram (ECG) can detect signs of pericardial effusion in people with undiagnosed heart disease or who have just had a heart attack. This can happen due to several different conditions, including infection, inflammation, trauma, or cancer. Pericardial effusion is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the space between the layers of the pericardium, the sac-like membrane that surrounds the heart. The Medical Definition of Pericardial Effusion Pericardial effusions may be treated with drainage, most often through a needle inserted into the pericardium through the neck or an incision in the chest. Seek medical attention if you have any of these symptoms. This can cause low blood pressure, shock, or a sudden cardiac arrest. If the effusion is large, it can compress the heart and interfere with its ability to pump blood effectively. Potential Symptoms of Fluid Around Your Heart Physicians recommend bed rest with head elevation at night to lessen the symptoms in these cases. Noncancerous conditions like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, Kawasaki disease, and severe asthma are common causes of pericardial effusion. Cardiac tamponade (a type of pericardial effusion caused by blood filling up within the chest cavity, compressing other organs and causing shortness of breath).Pleural effusion (fluid around your lungs).Malignancy (cancer) involving the heart.Injury to the heart or pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart).Fluid can accumulate for a variety of reasons, including: Although it’s usually benign, in some cases, it can be a sign of a more severe condition. Pericardial effusion is the medical term for when there’s an abnormal amount of fluid around the heart. This fluid buildup can cause several symptoms, including shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue.Ĭauses of Pericardial Effusion or Fluid Around Your Heart When pericardial effusion occurs due to inflammation or infection of the heart’s lining, fluid builds up around your heart’s inner chambers (the atria). The pericardium also serves to maintain blood pressure by restricting blood flow to some heart regions to keep pressure levels stable. The pericardium is a protective barrier between your body’s inner organs and the exterior environment. an inner layer, which includes cardiac muscle cells called myocardium.
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