PERICARDIAL EFFUSION

Course overview

A PERICARDIAL EFFUSION REFERS TO THE ACCUMULATION OF EXCESS FLUID IN THE PERICARDIAL SAC SURROUNDING THE HEART. IN A HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL, THE PERICARDIAL SAC CONTAINS BETWEEN 15 AND 50 MILLILITERS (ML) OF SEROUS FLUID. THIS FLUID MAY BE TRANSUDATIVE, EXUDATIVE, OR SANGUINEOUS AND MAY CONTAIN INFECTIOUS ORGANISMS OR MALIGNANT CELLS. IT MAY BE DUE TO INFECTION, INFLAMMATION, OR DIRECT FILLING OF THE PERICARDIAL SAC BY BLOOD FROM A DEFECT IN THE MYOCARDIUM (IATROGENIC OR TRAUMATIC INJURY OR CARDIAC WALL RUPTURE) OR BACKFILLING FROM AN ASCENDING AORTIC DISSECTION THAT DISSECTS INTO THE PERICARDIUM. THIS ACTIVITY EXAMINES WHEN THIS CONDITION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ON A DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND HOW TO PROPERLY EVALUATE FOR IT AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.