A very large hemorrhagic pericardial effusion due to malignancy as seen on ultrasound which was causing tamponade . closed arrow : the heart, open arrow : the effusion
22.
Practitioners may use the ultrasound to see if the heart is moving, beating in organized fashion or if it has a pericardial effusion or fluid around it.
23.
An excess of fluid in the cavity ( such as in a pericardial effusion ) can result in cardiac tamponade ( compression of the heart within the pericardial sac ).
24.
An echocardiogram is typically normal in acute pericarditis but can reveal pericardial effusion, the presence of which supports the diagnosis, although its absence does not exclude the diagnosis.
25.
Pericardial effusion usually results from a disturbed equilibrium between the production and re-absorption of pericardial fluid, or from a structural abnormality that allows fluid to enter the pericardial cavity.
26.
The diagnosis of tamponade can be confirmed with trans-thoracic echocardiography ( TTE ), which should show a large pericardial effusion and diastolic collapse of the right ventricle and right atrium.
27.
The so-called " water-bottle heart " is a radiographic sign of pericardial effusion, in which the cardiopericardial silhouette is enlarged and assumes the shape of a flask or water bottle.
28.
A chest x-ray is usually normal in acute pericarditis, but can reveal the presence of an enlarged heart if a pericardial effusion is present and is greater than 200 mL in volume.
29.
New evidence suggests that keeping chest tubes free of clogging with an active clearance can reduce Retained Blood Syndrome, the composite of tamponade, hemothorax, and pleural effusions and pericardial effusions as well as postoperative atrial fibrillation.
30.
Failure to respond to NSAIDs within one week ( indicated by persistence of fever, worsening of condition, new pericardial effusion, or continuing chest pain ) likely indicates that a cause other than viral or idiopathic is in process.
