Pericardial Effusion

Pericardial effusion usually occurs in association with pericarditis. Fluid of pericardial effusion can be transudate, exudate, pyopericardium or haemopericardium.

Causes-

Causes of pericardial effusion are as follow-

1.      Tuberculosis.
2.      Viral infection.
3.      Acute myocardial infarction.
4.      Connective tissue disorders.
5.      Rheumatic fever.
6.      Injury.

Symptoms-

1.      Increase in cardiac dullness.
2.      Faint heart sounds.
3.      When pericardial effusion occurs slowly, then it is usually asymptomatic.
4.      Whereas if pericardial effusion occurs over a short period of time, then it may lead to cardiac tamponade.

Investigations-

1.      Chest x-ray.
2.      ECG test.
3.      Echocardiography.
4.      Diagnostic paracentesis.
5.      Analysis of pericardial fluid.
6.      Cardiac catheterisation.
7.      Angiocardiography.

Do you know about- Acute Myocarditis 

Aortic Stenosis