Pericardial effusion treatment overview

Treatment of pericardial effusion depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the problem. Some pericardial effusions remain small and never require treatment. Patients with acute inflammatory signs may get symptomatic relief with anti-inflammatory drugs. If the effusion is compromising heart function and causing cardiac tamponade, it will need to be drained, most commonly by a needle inserted through the chest wall and into the pericardial space.

• Pericardial effusion due to a viral infection usually resolves within a few weeks without treatment.
• Some pericardial effusions remain small and never require treatment.
• If the pericardial effusion is due to a condition such as lupus, treatment with aspirin or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs may provide benefit.
• If the effusion is compromising heart function and causing cardiac tamponade, it will need to be drained, most commonly by a needle inserted through the chest wall and into the pericardial space.
• A drainage tube is often left in place for several days. In some cases, surgical drainage may be required by pericardiocentesis, in which a needle, and sometimes a catheter are used to drain excess fluid. Pericardial window is made surgically in patients with recurrent pericardial effusion which drains the fluid into peritonial cavity^[1]

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