Overall, studies have demonstrated excellent sensitivities and speciļ¬cities from 96-100% for the detection of pericardial effusions in both medical and trauma patients using focused cardiac ultrasound.

Can pericardial effusion be seen on ultrasound?

Overall, studies have demonstrated excellent sensitivities and speciļ¬cities from 96-100% for the detection of pericardial effusions in both medical and trauma patients using focused cardiac ultrasound.

What is the most common cause of pericardial effusion?

Lung cancer is the most common cause of the malignant pericardial effusion. Trauma: Blunt, penetrating, and iatrogenic injury to the myocardium, aorta, or coronary vessels can lead to the accumulation of blood within the pericardial sac.

What infections cause pericardial effusion?

Pericardial effusion often happens because of viral or bacterial infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (though this is less common in developed countries). It can also happen because of fungal infections or parasites.

What is the most suitable diagnostic test for pericardial effusion?

Chest X-ray film: The heart’s silhouette on one may be enlarged. That’s a sign of a pericardial effusion. If one is suspected, the best test to confirm it is an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) because your doctor would easily see any excess fluid.

What does pericardial effusion look like on ultrasound?

A pericardial effusion will appear as a dark, or anechoic, stripe surrounding the heart. Smaller effusions will appear as a thin stripe inside the pericardial space, often not extending fully around the heart and usually layering out posteriorly with gravity.

What worsens pericardial effusion?

A number of conditions can cause excess fluid and inflammation in the pericardial sac, such as: Cancer (spread from another part of the body or from the heart tissue itself) Infection of the pericardial sac, such as from viral or bacterial infections.

Can emotional stress cause pericarditis?

Stress cardiomyopathy (CMP) has been described as a complication of post-myocardial infarction pericarditis (Dressler syndrome). Stress CMP can also be complicated by pericarditis. We describe the novel observation where idiopathic pericarditis is the primary disease, which precipitated stress CMP.

What is the most common virus that causes pericarditis?

The most common cause of infectious pericarditis and myocarditis is viral. Common etiologic organisms include coxsackievirus A and B, and hepatitis viruses. Other forms of infectious pericarditis include the following: Pyogenic – Pneumococci, streptococci, staphylococci, Neisseria, Legionella species.

What is the difference between pericardial effusion and pericarditis?

If the tissue layers become inflamed, they rub against the heart and cause chest pain. If extra fluid builds up between the tissue layers, it’s called pericardial effusion. Pericarditis is usually mild. It often goes away on its own or with rest and basic treatment.

What is Dressler’s syndrome?

Dressler syndrome is a type of inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart (pericarditis). Dressler syndrome is believed to be an immune system response after damage to heart tissue or to the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium).

What is idiopathic pericardial effusion?

A large idiopathic chronic pericardial effusion is a collection of pericardial fluid that persists for more than three months and has no apparent cause. We conducted a prospective study of the natural history and treatment of this disorder.