Pericardial effusion is a collection of fluid around the heart in excess of the usual 15 to 50mls of pericardial fluid.
It is often associated with pericarditis – 60% of cases of pericarditis are accompanied by a pericardial effusion.
Causes include:
- Malignancy (especially lung, breast, leukaemia, lymphoma)
- Idiopathic
- Trauma
- Uraemia
- Radiation
- Postoperative
- Infection
- Connective tissue disease
- Hypothyroidism
Management
- Depends on aetiology
- Pericardiocentesis only if:
- Tamponade
- Suspicion of purulent pericarditis
- Chronic large effusion
Complication: Cardiac tamponade