THE diagnosis of pericardial effusion and pericarditis is often difficult. The history and physical signs can be misleading, and the electrocardiogram is frequently equivocal. A high index of ...

Pericardial effusion is the medical term for fluid buildup in the space around the heart. Treatment can depend on what is causing the fluid to build up. The fluid appears between the membrane sac ...

A 58-year-old woman presents to the hospital reporting fatigue, swelling of the legs and feet, and shortness of breath. She explains that her symptoms have been getting worse over the past 2 months.

Pericardial involvement is common in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and, when combined with a focused clinical and echocardiographic evaluation, may help identify those at higher risk for ...

Cardiac tamponade occurs when a pericardial effusion exerts a significant amount of pressure externally on the heart, resulting in impaired right ventricular filling eventually causing decreased ...

Blood flows through the heart and generates noises known as heart sounds. These noises occur due to heart valves opening and closing as the heart pumps blood. A doctor can gain valuable information by ...