What is Pericardial effusion ?

• accumulation of transudate, exudate, or blood in the pericardial space

• associated with CHF, valvular disease, MI

• very common after cardiac surgery

• many conditions that cause pericarditis produce chronic pericardial effusion

Once you suspect pericardial effusion, what do you do?

• establish the presence of the effusion

• assess hemodynamic impact

• establish the cause

establishing presence: use physical exam, EKG, CXR, echo

big neck veins clue you into pericardial effusion

EKG findings

• QRS complexes have low amplitudes because you’re short-circuiting cardiac potentials with the pericardial effusion fluid

• electrical alternans, caused by swinging of heart in wave of pericardial fluid

Category: Pathology Notes