10th May 2025

Pericardial effusion

These conditions (chronic or acute) if left untreated can lead  to formation of a pericardial effusion. Normal volumes of  fluid range from 15ml – 50ml. However, in pericarditis, this  amount of fluid can increase. The fluid may be transudative,  exudative or serosanguinous depending on the aetiology: 

• Transudative – Heart failure, hypoalbuminaemia, cirrhosis, chest wall irradiation, renal insufficiency
• Exudative – viral/bacterial infection, malignancy, inflammatory/autoimmune  
• Serosanguinous – blunt trauma, post cardiac surgery, uraemia, also malignancy