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
Appearance of the patient
Vital signs
- Tachycardia
- pulsus paradoxus
- hypotension in cardiac tamponade
Skin
HEENT
Neck
- Jugular venous distension
- Prominent Y descent
- Kussmaul's sign
Lungs
- Pleural dullness
- Decreased breath sounds
Heart
- Distant heart sounds
Abdomen
- Hepatomegaly
- Ascites in chronic cases
Back
Genitourinary
Neuromuscular
Extremities
- Ankle edema in chronic cases