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A member asked:
I have a small pericardial effusion. is this life threatening?
A doctor has provided 1 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.
Answered 11/6/2012
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