Pericardial Diseases
摘要
Pericardial effusions are common in critically ill patients. Bedside echocardiography has become the standard tool to diagnose pericardial effusions and assess for signs of hemodynamic compromise. Prompt recognition of cardiac tamponade can expedite performance of pericardiocentesis which can be life-saving in unstable patients. This chapter reviews key principles of pericardial diseases and focuses on pericardial effusions and the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade in critically ill patients.