CLINICAL FEATURES:PERICARDIAL EFFUSION
SINGS:
Signs are usually detected when a minimum amount of 500 cc of fluid accumulates in the pericardial sac. Normally it contains 5-20 cc of serous fluid. PERICARDIAL EFFUSION
General survey
Patient may be dyspnoeic, may be in propped up position. Sometimes patient may assume a ‘Mohammedan prayer position. Pulse rate is high, volume is low, typical pulsus paradoxus may be present when there is cardiac tamponade and during inspiration systolic pressure is dropped by 10 mm of Hg or more. BP is usually low. Pulse pressure is also low. Cyanosis may be present and is more often peripheral type. Neck veins are engorged and non-pulsatile. During inspiration the engorgement is aggravated (Kussmaul’s sign or venous pulsus paradoxus). JVP is high and increased during inspiration (Friedreich’s sign). Oedema may be present, BP is low. PERICARDIAL EFFUSION
Heart
Precordium is bulged but quiet. The play of left leaflet of diaphragm may not be seen (Hoover’s diaphragmatic sign). Apical impulse is neither visible nor palpable. Increased cardiac dullness on percussion which may assume an oval shape in supine position and triangular in erect posture. If apex beat is felt, it will be found within the outer border of cardiac dullness which is a diagnostic clinical sign. Sternum is dull particularly in its lower part (Dressler’s sign). Left second interspace is dull. PERICARDIAL EFFUSION
Heart sounds are either muffled or distant. Pericardial knock sound may be audible. Sometimes pericardial friction sound may also be heard.
Lungs
At the inferior angle of left scapula, there is increased vocal fremitus, dull note on percussion and bronchial breath sound due to collapsed lung by the pressure of pericardial fluid or due to associated pleural effusion (Ewart Bamberger’s or Pins sign). No moist sound is present as lung is not congested but may be present due to primary pathology in the lung.
Liver:
Liver is palpable (particularly the left lobe) and tender due to congestion of hepatic veins. For this epigastric fullness may be present (Auenbrugger’s sign).
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS: PERICARDIAL EFFUSION
Cardiac Tamponade : PERICARDIAL EFFUSION
This is a condition of severe cardiac compression by rapidly accumulating fluid in the pericardial sac or by constrictive pericarditis. This is characterized by marked congestion of neck veins, very low volume pulse, low blood pressure and tachycardia. Pulsus paradoxus and electrical alternans are usually present. Clinically this condition resembles shock. This demands immediate pericardial paracentesis. Very prominent jugular veins, severe cardiac compression and markedly low BP constitute Beck’s Triad.
https://butanoblog.com/ The most important member of a family is the housewife. He lives as a pillar of a family. Women…
Staphylococcal Pneumonia It may be a primary respiratory infection or secondary to staphylococcal focus anywhere in the body. It is…
It is the commonest of all specific pneumonias. AETIOLOGY Predisposing causes Age: All ages but 50% of cases are below…
DEFINITION OF CHRONIC BRONCHIAL ASTHMA BRONCHIAL ASTHMA is a chronic reversible inflammatory destructive disease of the airways characterised by recurrent…
DEFINITION BRONCHIECTASIS SINGS is a condition of permanent abnormal dilatation of the larger bronchi. AETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS Acquire Obstruction Obstruction…
DEFINITION OF CHRONIC BRONCHITIS PATIENT Chronic bronchitis may be defined as a disease characterised by cough and sputum for at…