Pericardial effusion physical examination
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.; Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.
Overview
The vital signs of a patient with small pericardial effusion are often normal. Fever suggests an underlying infectious or inflammatory cause, and the presence of a purulent effusion must be ruled out.
Physical examination
Vitals
Tachycardia, pulsus paradoxus and hypotension in cardiac tamponade
Neck
Jugular venous distension with a prominent Y descent and Kussmaul's sign
Chest
Pleural dullness, decreased breath sounds, and distant heart sounds
Abdomen
Hepatomegaly and ascites in chronic cases
Extremities
Ankle edema in chronic cases