Effusion is present in 28% of all pericardial disease cases (including constrictive pericarditis and acute pericarditis)
Physiology
Mechanism: elevated systemic capillary and PCWP pressures with transudation of fluid into pleural space
Development of “Cardiac Cirrhosis”: hepatic vein pressures are typically higher in constrictive pericarditis than those in right-sided congestive heart failure -> increasing probablity of developing hepatic necrosis (and ultimately cardiac cirrhosis)
Diagnosis
Echocardiogram: necessary
Swan: necessary
Cardiac Catheterization:
Clinical Manifestations
Cardiac Manifestations
General Features
Elevated Jugular Venous Pressure
Kussmaul’s Sign (see Kussmaul’s Sign, [[Kussmauls Sign]]): rise in the jugular venous pressure on inspiration
Pericardial Calcification on CXR
Pericardial Knock
Features Characteristic of Fluid Overload-Type Presentation
Anasarca
Peripheral/Lower Extremity Edema (see Lower Extremity Edema, [[Lower Extremity Edema]])
Features Characteristic of Low Cardiac Output-Type Presentation