Pericardial Effusion (Pericarditis) - Pericardial Effusion treatment, fetal, reason

Pericardial effusion (Pericarditis) is a disorder caused by inflammation of the pericardium, which is the sac-like covering of the heart.

What is Pericardial Effusion?

Pericardial effusion is the collection of fluid in the sac that surrounds the heart, a possible sign of cancer as well as many other conditions. When it is caused by cancer, it can be result of either direct spread of cancer from adjacent organs like the lung, or by metastatic spread from other parts of the body.

What are the causes of Pericardial Effusion?

A pericardial effusion may have many possible causes, including heart failure, tumors, lupus, bacterial or viral infection, or radiation treatment.

Pericarditis is usually a complication of viral infections, most commonly echovirus or cocksackie viruses. Less frequently, it can be caused by influenza or HIV infection. Infections with bacteria can lead to bacterial pericarditis (also called purulent pericarditis). Some fungal infections can also produce pericarditis.

In addition, pericarditis can be associated with systemic diseases such as autoimmune disorders, rheumatic fever, tuberculosis, cancer, leukemia, kidney failure, HIV infections, AIDS and hypothyroidism.

Heart disorders that can cause pericarditis include heart attack and myocarditis. Radiation therapy to the chest and medications that suppress the immune system can also sometimes induce this condition.

Pericarditis can also result from injury (including surgery) or trauma to the chest, esophagus, or heart.

Quite often, the cause of pericarditis remains unknown, in which case it is called idiopathic pericarditis.

Pericarditis most often affects men aged 20-50, usually following respiratory infections. It can also occur in children, where it is most commonly caused by adenovirus or coxsackie virus.

What are the symptoms of a Pericardial Effusion?

The severity of the symptoms will depend on the amount of fluid that has built up in the pericardium sac. The more fluid, the more symptoms experienced. These will include:

• Shortness of breath
• Splinting of ribs (bending over or holding the chest) with breathing
• Chest pain
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Lowered blood pressure
• Ankle, feet and leg swelling (occasionally)
• Feeling of weakness and fatigue
• Dry Cough
• In severe, emergency cases, collapse, weak or absent pulse.

What are the treatment of Pericardial effusion?

The cause of Pericardial effusion must be identified, if possible.

In most types of Pericardial effusion, it is necessary to treat the pain with analgesics (pain killers). The inflammation of the pericardium is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDS) such as aspirin and ibuprofen; in some cases, corticosteroids may be prescribed.

Diuretics may be used to remove excess fluid accumulated in the pericardial sac. If the buildup of pericardial fluid makes the heart function poorly or produces cardiac tamponade, it is necessary to drain the fluid through pericardiocentesis (removal of excess fluid from the pericardial sac).

Pericardiocentesis may be either percutaneous (using a needle to reach the pericardium, guided with echocardiography, in the procedure room), or surgical (done in the operating room as a minor surgery).

Bacterial pericarditis should be treated with antibiotics. Fungal pericarditis should be treated with antifungal agents.

If the Pericardial effusion is chronic, recurrent, or results in constrictive pericarditis, it may be advisable to perform pericardiectomy (cutting or removal of part of the pericardium).

Pericardial Mesothelioma

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