Question 1

how will pericardial effusion affect the fetus?

Accepted Answer

Hydrops.: Fetal pericardial effusions can lead to tamponade and worsening heart failure with hydrops and fetal loss. Depending on their cause they may be amenable to fetal interventions and/or early delivery at a tertiary care center.

Question 2

29 weeks pregnant with leukocyte esterase:large, fetal pericardial effusion and short long bones. can all these be related? be markers of a syndrome?

Accepted Answer

ChromosomalAbnormaly: Short long bones are considered a soft sign of potential chromosomal abnormality and generally a fetal pericardial effusion also can be indicative of a chromosomal problem (not always).  The leukocyte esterase is separate. Your OB doctor is going to be the best person to interpret these findings for you because they have all of the information to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Question 3

what is a pericardial effusion?

Accepted Answer

Fluid around heart: Heart muscle is covered by very thin layer of tissue called epicardium. Further surrounded by very thin partially distensible sac called pericardium. Space between epi- and peri- cardium always  contains small amount of lubricating fluid.  Epi or pericardium can become inflammed or fluid can leak into this space. When fluid accumulates and becomes detectable it is an "effusion.".

Question 4

what's a trivial pericardial effusion?

Accepted Answer

No concern: We all have small amounts of fluid in the pericardial sac around the heart.  Think of motor oil for valves in engine which lubricates surfaces ti reduce friction.  If we can see this on an echocardiogram we will frequently say trivial effusion.

Question 5

how are pericardial effusion and overloading related?

Accepted Answer

Overloading?: I do not quite understand what you mean by overloading? Did someone state that you have cardiac congestion?

Question 6

can you fly after a pericardial effusion?

Accepted Answer

Flight: If the pericardial effusion has resolved, flying likely ok. If it is still present, not a good idea to fly.

Question 7

i have a small pericardial effusion. is this life threatening?

Accepted Answer

Usually no: However, dependent on the time it took to collect the effusion, even a small effusion can be life-threatening.  In other words, if the fluid collects over a short period of time, it can lead to a catastrophic event, but if it takes a long time, the heart copes with it for a while.  The best way to tell what effect the fluid has, is to evaluate you with an echocardiogram.

Question 8

will a chronic pericardial effusion of 1.5  cm make me tired a lot?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the: cardiac compromise caused by the effusion. The more critical question is what is causing the effusion as 90% of the diagnoses causing effusion will make you tired. Its the other diagnosis not the effusion that is important regarding your fatigue.

Question 9

what's the difference between regurgitation and pericardial effusion?

Accepted Answer

Big difference: Regurgitation refers to leakiness of a heart valve (we have four valve sin the heart through which blood flows into each respective chamber). However a pericardial effusion is collection of fluid in the pericardial sac between the outer heart muscle wall and pericardium ("skin around heart").

Question 10

i had an echo that came back and it said i have a small pericardial effusion.?

Accepted Answer

Talk to your doc: Imagine your fist (representing your heart) pushing in one side of a balloon until the balloon (pericardium) surrounds the fist (heart). There's always a small amount of fluid between the two parts/sides of the pericardium to allow it to slide easily. With inflammation and/or injury, you can develop extra fluid known as an effusion. Talk to doctor who ordered echo b/c implications depend upon you.

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Doctor answers about:

Pericardial effusion fetus

A member asked:

How will pericardial effusion affect the fetus?

A member asked:

29 weeks pregnant with leukocyte esterase:large, fetal pericardial effusion and short long bones. can all these be related? be markers of a syndrome?

A member asked:

What is a pericardial effusion?

A member asked:

What's a trivial pericardial effusion?

A member asked:

How are pericardial effusion and overloading related?

A member asked:

Can you fly after a pericardial effusion?

A member asked:

I have a small pericardial effusion. is this life threatening?

A member asked:

Will a chronic pericardial effusion of 1.5 cm make me tired a lot?

A member asked:

What's the difference between regurgitation and pericardial effusion?

A member asked:

I had an echo that came back and it said i have a small pericardial effusion.?

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