Does pericardial effusion require diuresis?
Whether pericardial effusion requires diuretic treatment depends on the cause of the pericardial effusion. If the pericardial effusion is caused by heart failure, the patient often experiences symptoms of heart failure such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, and swelling of the limbs. In this case, diuretic treatment is necessary. Appropriate diuretic treatment can effectively improve the symptoms of heart failure, reduce the degree of pericardial effusion, and may even avoid the need for pericardial puncture. If the pericardial effusion is caused by tuberculosis, diuretic treatment often cannot effectively reduce the pericardial effusion. If the amount of pericardial fluid is large, puncture and fluid extraction are often needed to improve symptoms, while actively treating the tuberculosis causing the condition.