Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Ewart's sign
Introduction
Ewart’s sign is a set of findings on physical examination in people with large collections of fluid around their heart (pericardial effusions). Dullness to percussion, egophony, and bronchial breath sounds may be appreciated at the tip of the left scapula when the effusion is large enough to compress the left lower lobe of the lung, causing consolidation or atelectasis. It was first described by William Ewart in 1896.
References
- W. Ewart: Practical aids in the diagnosis of pericardial effusion, in connection with the question as to surgical treatment. British Medical Journal, London, 1896, 1: 717-721.