Pericardial Effusion: Cardiovascular Disease
Pericardial effusion is a cardiovascular disease, and it arises when too much fluid accumulates around the heart and the pericardium.
Signs and symptoms may not surface, even if one has severe pericardial effusion, notably when the fluid has accumulated slowly. However, if signs are present, they may include: cough, pain when breathing while lying down (orthopnea), fatigue, low-grade fever, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing (dyspnea), chest pain (on the left side of the chest or behind the breastbone), and rapid heart rate.
Specific characteristics of a pericardial effusion are when the cardiopericardial silhouette is expanded and takes on the shape of a water bottle or flask. Also, if a person suffers from cardiac tamponade, it is assumed that they had pericardial effusion before it developed into cardiac tamponade.
The pericardium, itself, is a strong, layered sac that encases the heart. During normal function, there are only 2-3 tablespoons of pericardial fluid present; up to 2 …show more content…
Normally, treating the fundamental cause of pericardial effusion often fixes the problem. Medications to treat the inflamed pericardium are aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, indomethacin, etc.), and colchicine. Corticosteroids are issued if the other medications don’t work. Other options for treatment are to drain the fluid by pericardiocentesis, seal the layers of the pericardium together, open-heart surgery, or remove the pericardium.
Three other systems that are affected by pericardial effusion are the respiratory, lymphatic/immune, and urinary systems. Pericardial effusion may make it difficult to breath and cause shortness of breath. Because viral, fungal, parasitic, and bacterial infections can cause pericardial effusion, it means that the immune system is not operating the way it should be. Lastly, uremia can also be a cause of pericardial
Signs and symptoms may not surface, even if one has severe pericardial effusion, notably when the fluid has accumulated slowly. However, if signs are present, they may include: cough, pain when breathing while lying down (orthopnea), fatigue, low-grade fever, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing (dyspnea), chest pain (on the left side of the chest or behind the breastbone), and rapid heart rate.
Specific characteristics of a pericardial effusion are when the cardiopericardial silhouette is expanded and takes on the shape of a water bottle or flask. Also, if a person suffers from cardiac tamponade, it is assumed that they had pericardial effusion before it developed into cardiac tamponade.
The pericardium, itself, is a strong, layered sac that encases the heart. During normal function, there are only 2-3 tablespoons of pericardial fluid present; up to 2 …show more content…
Normally, treating the fundamental cause of pericardial effusion often fixes the problem. Medications to treat the inflamed pericardium are aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, indomethacin, etc.), and colchicine. Corticosteroids are issued if the other medications don’t work. Other options for treatment are to drain the fluid by pericardiocentesis, seal the layers of the pericardium together, open-heart surgery, or remove the pericardium.
Three other systems that are affected by pericardial effusion are the respiratory, lymphatic/immune, and urinary systems. Pericardial effusion may make it difficult to breath and cause shortness of breath. Because viral, fungal, parasitic, and bacterial infections can cause pericardial effusion, it means that the immune system is not operating the way it should be. Lastly, uremia can also be a cause of pericardial