Medical Services

Pericardial Effusion: Excess Fluid Around the Heart

When too much fluid builds up in the pericardial sac—the protective membrane around the heart—pericardial effusion results. Although little amounts of fluid are usual, too much can squeeze the heart and cause it to malfunction.
Risk Factors and Causes:
Pericardial effusion can be caused by infections, whether they are viral, bacterial, or fungal, autoimmune illnesses such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, kidney failure, cardiac surgery, or trauma. Moreover, several drugs and radiation treatments can contribute to fluid buildup.
Symptoms: chest pain or pressure
The symptoms may include shortness of breath, fatigue or weakness, a fast heart rate, and severe swelling in the legs or abdomen.
If fluid accumulation is too great, it can cause cardiac tamponade—a life-threatening disorder in which intense pressure causes the heart to fail in pumping capacity.
Diagnosis calls for echocardiography, chest X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. Treatment depends on how bad it is; mild cases can be helped by pain killers; severe cases need either pericardial window surgery or pericardiocentesis (fluid drainage) to stop them from happening again.
Prevention and Prospective Outcomes:
Preventing problems mostly depends on early identification. Regular heart checks, quick treatment of infections, and underlying disease management help lower pericardial effusion risk.