Pericardial effusion (fluid around heart) symptoms & causes

When you’re not feeling well from pericardial effusion, or fluid around the heart, you want to know why and find the right treatment. At Aurora, you’re in excellent hands with some of the most experienced and dedicated heart specialists in the region.

What is pericardial effusion?

Pericardial effusion is often called fluid around the heart. It’s an accumulation of extra fluid within the pericardium, the protective sac that surrounds your heart.

Normally, there’s a small amount of fluid between the pericardium and your heart. This fluid surrounds and helps cushion your heart.

But if your heart becomes inflamed from a disease or injury or there’s bleeding after a chest trauma, extra fluid can build up in the pericardium. That can make it harder for your heart to function. If left untreated, pericardial effusion can lead to heart failure or even death.

Serious symptoms of fluid around the heart

Certain fluid around the heart symptoms can signal pericardial effusion is severely affecting your heart. This a medical emergency. Call 911 if you or someone you know is experiencing:

• Blue-tinged skin or lips
• Change in mental status
• Shock, with symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, clammy or pale skin, cool arms and legs, rapid breathing, nausea or vomiting

Pericardial effusion causes

Sometimes the pericardium becomes inflamed for no known reason. But usually doctors can pinpoint a known cause for pericardial effusion. The causes of fluid around the heart can include:

• Autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Cancer radiation therapy when the heart is within the radiation field
• Metastatic cancer (cancer that started in one body part and spread), especially lung cancer, breast cancer or leukemia
• Viral, bacterial or fungal infections
• Kidney failure

Pericardial effusion diagnosis

We care for many patients, but you’re much more than a number to us. To diagnose pericardial effusion, we’ll talk with you about your medical history and any symptoms you may be having and give you a thorough physical exam.

We may order diagnostic tests for you, too, such as:

• Radiographic imaging, such as chest X-ray or CT scan to see pictures of your heart and chest
• Echocardiogram, or heart ultrasound, that shows your heart’s size and motion
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) to check your heart’s electrical activity

Find out more about our heart and vascular testing and diagnosis.

Pericardial effusion treatment

Your treatment will depend on what’s causing the pericardial effusion and the severity of your symptoms. Our specialists are experts at caring for your heart – and caring for you as a person. We’ll listen to you and talk with you about all available care options, and together, we’ll determine the right pericardial effusion treatment plan for you.

We may recommend:

• Medication, such as antibiotics, diuretics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
• Pericardiocentesis, where we guide a thin tube called a catheter to the heart to remove the excess fluid around the heart
• Video-assisted thoracotomy, where we make a small incision to access the pericardium, drain the fluid and prevent it from reaccumulating
• Pericardial window, where we make a small incision to open the pericardium and drain the fluid