Pericardial Effusion

Question 1

What is pericardial effusion?

Answer 1

Pericardial space filled with excessive fluid

Question 2

What results from pericardial effusion?

Answer 2

Decreased/inadequate cardiac output

Question 3

What dictates the onset and severity of clinical signs assoc. w/pericardial effusion?

Answer 3

Amt of fluid and rate at which the pericardial space fills

Question 4

Intrapericardial pressure equals or exceeds R atrial pressure resulting in CV and hemodynamic compromise

Answer 4

Cardiac tamponade

Question 5

What emergency/life-saving procedure can also be used as a diagnostic procedure to evaluate pericardial effusion?

Answer 5

Pericardiocentesis

Question 6

Where is the pericardial space located?

Answer 6

Between parietal and visceral layers of serous pericardium

Question 7

Why does cardiac dysfunction result from pericardial effusion?

Answer 7

Too much pressure for the heart to expand and fill

Question 8

A form of cardiogenic shock that develops when the intrapericardial pressure equals or exceeds R atrial pressure

Answer 8

Cardiac tamponade

Question 9

What cardiac parameters are impaired with cardiac tamponade?

Answer 9

Venous return, ventricular filling, SV, and CO

Question 10

What is the most common neoplastic cause of pericardial effusion in the heart of a dog?

Answer 10

Hemangiosarcoma (RA/auricle)

Question 11

What toxicity can cause coagulopathy that leads to pericardial effusion?

Answer 11

Rodenticide toxicity

Question 12

Which side of CHF can cause pericardial effusion in dogs?

Answer 12

R-CHF (either in cats)

Question 13

What is the most common neoplasm of the heart in a cat?

Answer 13

Lymphosarcoma

Question 14

What infectious disease of cats can cause pericardial effusion?

Answer 14

FIP

Question 15

What is the most common cause of pericardial effusion in a horse?

Answer 15

Idiopathic

Question 16

What is the most common cause of pericardial effusion in a cow?

Answer 16

Traumatic reticuloperitonitis (Hardware dz)

Question 17

What are clinical signs of pericardial effusion?

Answer 17

Muffled heart sounds, poor pulse quality, jugular vein distension

Question 18

What will you see on rads of a pericardial effusion?

Answer 18

Round cardiac silhouette, large caudal vena cava, hepatomegaly

Question 19

Pattern of alternating variation in R-wave amplitude

Answer 19

Electrical alternans

Question 20

What will you see on an ECG of a pericardial effusion?

Answer 20

Tachycardia, VPCs, electrical alternans

Question 21

What is the gold standard for diagnosing pericardial effusion?

Answer 21

Echo

Question 22

What type of fluid is most frequently retrieved from a pericardial effusion?

Answer 22

Hemorrhagic

Question 23

What clinicopathologic findings are assoc. w/pericardial effusion?

Answer 23

Anemia, pre-renal azotemia, pulsus paradoxus

Question 24

Exaggeration of the normal inspiratory decrease in systolic blood pressure

Answer 24

Pulsus paradoxus

Question 25

How do you treat pericardial effusion in small animals?

Answer 25

Pericardiocentesis, pericardectomy

Question 26

What is the treatment of choice for idiopathic pericardial effusion in small animals?

Answer 26

Pericardectomy

Question 27

What are complications of a pericardiocentesis?

Answer 27

VPCs, laceration of the coronary artery, sudden death

Question 28

How do you treat idiopathic pericardial effusion in horses?

Answer 28

Indwelling chest tube + drainage and lavage

Question 29

How do you treat TRP in cattle?

Answer 29

Usually PTS if severe, magnet in reticulum