Pericardial effusion

Pericardial effusion is a buildup of too much fluid in the sac around your heart. This sac is called the pericardium. Normally, there is a small amount of fluid between this sac and your heart. This fluid surrounds and helps cushion your heart.

Extra fluid can be caused by many things, including pericarditis (inflammation of the sac), heart attack, surgery, kidney failure, infection, some cancers, and certain diseases such as lupus. Sometimes the cause is not known.

Symptoms depend on how much fluid there is and how fast the fluid builds up.

Symptoms may include:

• Chest pain.
• Trouble breathing.

Some people have no symptoms.

You will have an echocardiogram ("echo"). This is a test that lets your doctor see how much fluid is in your pericardium and how your heart is working. You also may have tests such as a chest X-ray, EKG, or CT scan.

Your doctor may want to take a small sample of the fluid around your heart for testing. This may help find the cause of the extra fluid.

If there is only a small amount of extra fluid in your pericardium, you may not need treatment. The extra fluid may go away on its own.

Treatment depends on the cause of the extra fluid, the amount of fluid, and your symptoms. Options include:

• Medicine to treat the cause of the effusion, if the cause is known.
• Pericardiocentesis. This is a procedure that uses a needle and a tube to drain the fluid. You will get a shot of anesthetic to numb the skin and deeper tissues. You will be awake for the procedure.
• Surgery to open a section of the pericardium to drain the fluid. You may get anesthesia that makes you sleep during the surgery.

Follow a heart-healthy lifestyle, take medicines as prescribed, and watch for changes in your symptoms. A heart-healthy lifestyle includes eating heart-healthy foods. Limit alcohol, sodium, and sugar. Be active. Stay at a weight that's healthy for you. If you smoke or vape, try to quit. And try to get enough sleep.