What pericardial effusion looks like (with ultrasound)


In this video, we show what pericardial effusion looks like using ultrasound. The fluid can be seen as a large halo of dark fluid a (between the arrowheads) surrounding and compressing/squishing the heart). This patient developed pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade as a result of a cavitated heart-based tumour, most likely hemangiosarcoma. With therapeutic pericardiocentesis, we were able to buy her about another month of good quality time with her family before the disease ultimately progressed.
The last clip of the video is from a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy/DCM. Notice how the heart itself and the heart chambers are dilated and enlarged. (There is no pericardial effusion in the second patient).
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