Aetiology
Cause of a pericardial effusion include:
- Infectious pericarditis: viral, tuberculosis, pyogenic spread from septicaemia and pneumonia
- Uraemia
- Idiopathic
- Post myocardial infarction (including Dressler's syndrome)
- Malignancy
- Heart failure
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Hypothyroidism
- Trauma
Management
- Depends on underlying cause