Recognize the Causes and Symptoms of Pericardial Effusion

Pericardial effusion is a condition of excess fluid in the pericardium. The pericardium itself is a sac around the heart, which is hard and double-lined, containing a small amount of fluid that lubricates the movement of the heart in the chest cavity. If the pericardium is affected by disease or injured, then the inflammation caused can cause excess fluid. Without inflammation, pericardial effusion can also occur due to bleeding due to impact or injury to the chest area. This condition needs to be watched out for, because pericardial effusion can overload the heart's work and can make the heart's performance decrease. Even if left untreated, it can cause heart failure to death.

Various Causes of Pericardial Effusion

One of the main causes of pericardial inflammation and effusion is viral infection. The infection can be caused by cytomegalovirus, coxsackievirus, and HIV. Apart from viral infections, there are several other conditions that can cause pericardial effusion:

• Heart attack
• Autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
• Cancer and the influence of the spread of cancer (metastasis), especially lung cancer and breast cancer
• Hypothyroidism
• Physical trauma to the chest cavity or stab wounds near the heart.

Including the consumption of drugs in certain doses, such as high blood pressure type hydralazine, isoniazid pulmonary TB drugs, and anti-phenytoin seizure drugs, can trigger pericardial effusion.

Recognize Symptoms that Arise

Pericardial effusion can be acute or chronic, and each progression of the condition can improve the symptoms experienced.

• The main symptom of pericardial effusion is chest pain, especially in the back of the breastbone on the left side. Breathing deeply and bending your body position can cause complaints to feel heavier. In addition to chest pain, there are also some symptoms that can be recognized from pericardial effusion, including: Fever
• Cough
• Hoarseness
• Anxious and confused
• Fatigue
• Hiccup
• Less comfortable breathing when lying down (orthopnea)
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

However, if the symptoms of pericardial effusion become more serious, such as accompanied by shortness of breath, loss of consciousness or fainting, palpitations (heart palpitations) and cold sweat, the patient must immediately receive medical treatment, because pericardial effusion like this can be life threatening.

How to Manage Pericardial Effusion

In mild pericardial effusion with a clear cause, it may not require special treatment. However, in principle, the handling of pericardial effusion depends on how much fluid has accumulated, its severity and its cause. To treat pericardial effusion, the doctor needs to treat inflammation as soon as possible. Your doctor may give you some drugs, such as aspirin, corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Different again if it turns out the patient has a severe infection or impaired cardiac function, then handling pericardial effusion that may be recommended is to drain and prevent more fluid from accumulating in the pericardium as soon as possible. This treatment is carried out with two events:

• Pericardiocentesis

The doctor will insert a needle through the chest into the pericardial effusion, followed by a catheter, then the doctor will suck the fluid out.

• Pericardiectomy

This procedure must be performed by a surgeon and performed under general anesthesia. In pericardiectomy, the doctor will make an incision in the chest and cut the pericardium, thereby draining the pericardial effusion and preventing it from returning at a later time.

Pericardial effusion that attacks around the heart, can not be underestimated. Consult a doctor immediately if you experience chest pain or other symptoms of pericardial effusion, for proper treatment.