ABC Imagem Cardiovasc. 2026; 39(1): e20250105

My Approach to Differentiating Pericardial Effusion with and without Hemodynamic Repercussions

DOI: 10.36660/abcimg.20250105i

Abstract

Pericardial effusion is a common finding in cardiology practice. It is frequently identified in outpatient and inpatient follow-up examinations, especially during the postoperative period of heart surgery. In clinically stable patients, proper assessment can allow for early detection of signs of clinical deterioration. In patients in shock, careful analysis of pericardial effusion can confirm or rule out this condition as the main cause of hemodynamic instability. Precise identification of the location, anatomical characterization of severity, and analysis of hemodynamic repercussions by means of Doppler are essential elements to guide medical management. In addition to technical assessment, precautions when describing findings in imaging reports are equally important. This is because the hemodynamic repercussions observed on echocardiography do not always correspond to the patient’s clinical severity.