Sound waves are used to create pictures of the heart in motion. Tests to diagnose or confirm pericardial effusion may include: If your health care provider thinks you have pericardial effusion, tests can help identify a cause. He or she will likely listen to your heart with a stethoscope. To diagnose pericardial effusion, the health care provider will typically perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. Cardiac tamponade is life-threatening and requires emergency medical treatment. The strain prevents the heart chambers from filling completely with blood.Ĭardiac tamponade results in poor blood flow and a lack of oxygen to the body. In this condition, the excess fluid within the pericardium puts pressure on the heart. Waste products in the blood due to kidney failure (uremia)Ī potential complication of pericardial effusion is cardiac tamponade (tam-pon-AYD).Viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections.Use of certain drugs or exposure to toxins.Inflammation of the pericardium following a heart attack or after heart surgery or a procedure where the heart's lining is injured.Radiation therapy for cancer if the heart was in the area of the radiation.Spread of cancer (metastasis), particularly lung cancer, breast cancer or Hodgkin's lymphoma.Autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.Sometimes the cause can't be determined (idiopathic pericarditis).Ĭauses of pericardial effusion may include: A blockage of pericardial fluids or a collection of blood within the pericardium also can lead to this condition. In some settings, large effusions may be caused by certain cancers. Pericardial effusion can result from inflammation of the pericardium (pericarditis) after an illness or injury. See your health care provider if you have shortness of breath.
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