A REVIEW ON PERICARDIAL EFFUSION

Background: The collection of extra fluid in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart is referred to as a pericardial effusion. The pericardial sac contains between 15 and 50 milliliters (mL) of serous fluid in a healthy person. Infectious organisms or malignant cells may be present in this fluid, which can be transudative, exudative, or sanguineous. Infection, inflammation, or direct blood filling of the pericardial sac from a defect in the myocardium (iatrogenic or traumatic injury or heart wall rupture) or backfilling from an ascending aortic dissection that dissects into the pericardium are all possibilities. This activity looks at when this condition should be on a differential diagnosis list and how to properly evaluate for it, as well as the role of the interprofessional team in caring for patients with this illness.

Conclusion: The goals of this review article are to describe the symptoms of a pericardial effusion, outline the testing that should be done in patients who present with pericardial effusions, explain pericardial effusion management considerations, and summarise interprofessional team strategies for improving care coordination and communication to improve outcomes for patients with pericardial effusions.