Pericardial Effusion

Pericardial effusion is the build up of fluid around the heart and it is an abnormal accumulation in the pericardial cavity. Since there is a limited amount of space in the pericardial cavity, the fluid accumulation will lead to an increased intrapericardial pressure and this can negatively affect heart function and will lead to malfunctioning. Pericardial effusion is a result of disturbed equilibrium between the production and re-absorption of pericardial fluid, or from a structural abnormality that allows fluid to enter the pericardial cavity.

There are three types of pericardial effusion. It may be transudative in case of congestive heart failure, myxoedema, nephrotic syndrome, exudative in case of tuberculosis, spread from empyema or haemorrhagic in case of trauma, rupture of aneuryms, malignant effusion.

Symptoms :

Generally speaking the condition will lead to Chest pain, pressure symptoms. However a small effusion may have no symptoms. Pericardial effusion may also be noticed after a specific type of heart defect repair. An Atrial Septal Defect Secundum, or ASD, when repaired will most likely produce a pericardial effusion because of the method of treatment. Another symptom of pericardial effusion is the so-called “water-bottle heart” is a radiographic sign of pericardial effusion, in which the cardiopericardial silhouette is enlarged and assumes the shape of a flask or water bottle.

Some of the noticeable symptoms of this condition are as follows:

• severe edema (fluid retention)
• low blood pressure
• shortness of breath
• dizziness
• chest pain
• cough
• rapid pulse

Causes :

Some causes of pericardial effusion other than inflammatory types of arthritis, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis including:

• cancer
• infection
• kidney failure
• heart surgery
• hemorrhage
• trauma
• unknown cause

Treatment :
If the amount of fluid does not increase or is small then no treatment is required to remove it. When the condition of the disease is more severe, it is usually drained using a needle which is passed through the chest wall and into the space where the fluid is located. In some cases, when it is unavoidable then a surgery is required to drain the fluid.

The treatment of this condition is usually with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, though steroid therapy may be recommended and sometimes surgical intervention is needed, or drainage of fluid from around the heart. If the disease is treated promptly and regularly, most people recover in two weeks to three months.