What position should be adopted for difficulty in breathing due to pericardial effusion?

Written by Di Zhi Yong

Cardiology

Updated on September 29, 2024

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If a patient frequently experiences difficulty in breathing, it is recommended to immediately adopt a sitting position, as this can reduce the load on the heart, thereby alleviating expansion. Currently, for the purpose of treating breathing difficulties, conditions like pericardial effusion are very serious, and puncture aspiration for examination can be chosen as a treatment. For heart failure caused by pericardial effusion, sometimes it is necessary to use some cardiotonic diuretics, thus improving the patient's breathing difficulties. Currently, symptomatic treatment is primarily adopted in therapy, mainly adopting a semi-recumbent position or dangling both legs, which can reduce the heart's afterload, thereby easing the patient's condition.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong

Cardiology

47sec

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Can you exercise with pericardial effusion?

If the patient has pericardial effusion, it is acceptable to encourage them to participate in outdoor activities, but they should exercise moderately and not too vigorously, especially avoiding strenuous physical workouts. Also, aerobic exercises should be moderate, and they should not spend too long on outdoor activities. Decisions should be made based on the individual's condition. If the condition of heart failure is severe, it is advisable for the patient to rest primarily. Particularly in terms of diet, the intake of sodium should be restricted. Sometimes, excessive intake of sodium can exacerbate symptoms like palpitations, chest tightness, and breathing difficulties. These are serious symptoms that require active management and treatment.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

1min 13sec

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The causes of recurrent pericardial effusion

Pericardial effusion can be caused by many factors, such as acute pericarditis or chronic tuberculous pericarditis. Other causes include hypothyroidism, tumors, heart failure, and severe hypoproteinemia due to liver dysfunction, all of which can lead to pericardial effusion. Common pericardial effusion infections, hypothyroidism, or heart failure might improve after treatment. However, if the cause of certain intractable diseases cannot be removed, pericardial effusion may recur. For example, pericardial effusion caused by malignant tumors and hypoproteinemia is common in patients with cirrhosis, severe liver failure, or nephrotic syndrome. Such individuals often experience recurring pericardial effusions. Another example is patients with heart failure, who, in the terminal stages of heart disease, also frequently experience recurrences of pericardial effusion. Therefore, managing recurrent pericardial effusions in patients, particularly when not due to infectious factors, can be quite challenging.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong

Cardiology

46sec

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When should the pericardial effusion drainage tube be removed?

If the patient has pericardial effusion and there is no apparent leakage from the drainage tube, and no fluid drainage, it is possible to consider removing the tube after two days. In cases like this, active drainage is sometimes still necessary because pericardial effusion is a type of exudate, which can be inflammatory. Draining can help relieve the cardiac workload. If the drainage tube is clear and there is no fluid leakage, removing the tube after about two days can be considered. However, there is a situation where the tube must not be removed. If there is fluid leaking from the pericardial effusion, or if the symptoms of pericardial effusion are still severe, and there is some fluid remaining in the pericardial cavity, the tube should not be removed.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong

Cardiology

57sec

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Pericardial effusion usually requires attention to the following aspects:

If the patient has pericardial effusion, it is still necessary to maintain a light diet, eat small meals frequently, and especially avoid spicy and irritating foods. Meanwhile, patients should pay attention to regular re-examinations of cardiac echocardiography and electrocardiograms, as the most effective and direct method for diagnosing pericardial effusion is puncture and fluid extraction for examination. For minor amounts of pericardial effusion, it is recommended that patients first observe and use medication, which can also help alleviate symptoms. During this period, it is important to monitor changes in the patient's blood pressure and heart rate. If blood pressure rises or heart rate increases rapidly, it can exacerbate pericardial effusion. However, it is still crucial to actively use medication for early intervention, which can also help alleviate symptoms, and actively prevent upper respiratory infections.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong

Cardiology

49sec

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Does pericardial effusion hurt?

If a patient has pericardial effusion, they may experience pain in the precordial area, as well as symptoms of chest tightness, breathing difficulties, and palpitations. A small amount of pericardial effusion can be completely absorbed on its own; however, a large amount of pericardial effusion can sometimes lead to breathing difficulties. For treatment, a pericardiocentesis can be performed to examine the fluid, as this condition is very dangerous. In cases of pericardial effusion, I personally suggest undergoing a cardiac echocardiogram or a chest CT scan for a more definitive diagnosis. During this period, it is still important to actively monitor the patient's blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse changes. If there is a very high heart rate or other complications, active treatment should be pursued.